Kenneth A. Pakonen

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Kenneth A. Pakonen, 83, of Ironwood and formerly White Pine, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 12, 2015, in Ironwood.

Kenneth was born April 30, 1931, in Phelps, Wis., son of the late Toivo and Alma (Haaro) Pakonen. 

He attended the Roosevelt Grade School in Ironwood Township and graduated from the Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood with the class of 1949. He was a member of the ROTC and served in the National Guard until his Honorable Discharge on Jan. 26, 1962.

Kenneth was employed by Zontelli Brothers Construction as a heavy equipment operator. In 1954, he was employed at the White Pine Copper Mine until retiring as a general foreman in 1992. In White Pine, he was an active member and past president of the Lions Club. He was in charge of the Fourth of July fireworks for many years.

Kenneth was also a member of the White Pine School Board and founding member of the St. Jude's Knights of Columbus. At St. Jude's Catholic Church, he was an active member of the Parish Council for many years. Kenneth organized the pancake breakfasts for both the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club. In Ironwood, he was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.

Kenneth was an avid skier and gardener and enjoyed country and polka music. He especially enjoyed getting together with friends and family for Friday night fish fries. In retirement, he and his wife, Rose, loved to travel in their Air Stream trailer, having visited all 50 states.

On Oct. 27, 1951, he was married to the former Rose A. Domencich at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood. Rose survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Gerald (Christina) Pakonen, of Anchorage, Alaska, David Pakonen, of Ketchum, Idaho, and Thomas (Julie) Pakonen, of Ironwood; a daughter, Jane (Brian) Labby, of Midland; eight grandchildren; three brothers, Rudy (Lorraine) Pakonen, of California, Rodney (Charlotte) Pakonen, of Minneapolis, and Roland (Polly) Pakonen, of Springport; as well as many nieces and nephews, other relatives and extended family.

Besides his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by brothers Ronald, Marvin and Roger; and a sister in infancy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT at St. Jude's Catholic Church in White Pine. Rev. Michael Jacobus will be the celebrant. Kenneth's family will receive relatives and friends from noon until the time of Mass at the church on Saturday. A luncheon will follow the Mass in the parish hall.

Burial will be at a later date in the Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

Memorial contributions are preferred to the St. Jude's Building Fund.

Range Funeral Service and Crematory and the Ketola-Burla Funeral Home of Ironwood has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Private online condolences can be sent to rangefsi@up.net.