Ilmar C. Juntunen
August 15, 1920 — May 26, 2006
Ilmar C. Juntunen, 85, of Alston, died Friday morning, May 26, 2006, in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L'Anse.
He was born August 15, 1920, in Nisula, a son of the late Severus and Eva S. (Juntunen) Juntunen and had been a lifelong area resident. Ilmar was a WWII veteran, having served in the army. On January 20, 1951 he married the former Gloria King in Hubbell, Michigan.
Ilmar was employed as a factory worker for General Motors in Detroit. He relocated to Alston and was employed with the White Pine Copper Mine while also working as a logger and operating the family farm.
He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and VFW Post 7646 in Alston. Ilmar was a founding member of the Laird Township Fire Department and served for a short time as Laird Township Constable. His leisure activities included hunting, fishing, gardening wood working, the outdoors and spending time with family. He was also regarded as an excellent cook. Recently, Ilmar and Gloria were elected King and Queen at the Skilled Nursing Unit of Baraga County Memorial Hospital in honor of National Nursing Home Week.
Ilmar is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria Juntunen of Alston; children, John (Janet) Juntunen of Nisula, Judith (Thomas) Allen of Battle Creek, MI, Michael Juntunen of Alston, Carol (Stephen) Klein of Hubbell, Gloria J. Juntunen of L'Anse, Carl I. Juntunen Jr. of Anchorage, AK, Margaret (Shawn) Signalness of Chaska, MN, Barbara (Todd) Burkhardt of Minneapolis, MN and Mary Kaye (John) Smith of Ada, MI; grandchildren, Martti (Kristi) Juntunen of Alston, Lori Juntunen of Menasha, WI, Amy (Brian) Mensch of McMillan, MI, Sara (Matt) Myers of Battle Creek, MI, Lisa (Dan) Beuhler of Cedar Springs, MI, Thomas (Beverly) Allen of Valdosta, GA, Jason Juntunen of Alston, Alan (Jessica) Juntunen of Alston, Ashley Juntunen of Alston, Jenna Juntunen of Alston, Ricky Juntunen of Alston, Andy Fountaine of Madison, WI, April Fountaine of Calumet, Adam Fountaine of Lake Linden, Samantha Juntunen of Washington State, Alexandria Juntunen of Washington State, Justin Signalness of Chaska, MN, Jessica Signalness of Chaska, MN, George Burkhardt of Minneapolis, MN, Charlie Burkhardt of Minneapolis, MN, John Carl Smith of Ada, MI and Genevieve Smith of Ada, MI; great-grandchildren, Maijah Juntunen, Heather Mensch, Darla Mensch, Kaylee, Jacob and Michael Allen, Katie and Rachel Myer, McKenna and Jace Buehler, Allison and Julie Juntunen; sister, Eva (Harry) Jackson of Westland, MI; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert George; brothers, Jalmer, George and Matt; and sisters, Evelyn (Donald) Burke and Margaret (James) LaPante.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 29, 2006 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Jacobson Funeral Home. A parish prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 11 a.m. in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Baraga with Rev. Augustine George officiating. Interment will be in the Nisula Cemetery.