L’ANSE, Mich. — William “Bill” Juutilainen, 64, of L’Anse, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, at Baraga County Memorial Hospital.
Bill was born Oct. 22, 1948, in Wakefield, son to Arvo and Saima (Niemi) Juutilainen. He grew up in Erwin Township and attended school there.
He married the former Dorothy Gauthier on Feb. 2, 1980, in L’Anse.
Bill worked as a carpenter, logger and roofer for various companies in the area. He previously owned Bill’s Taxi. He retired from Collins Sawmill in December 2012.
Bill enjoyed woodworking, building things, cooking, camping, fishing, boating, hunting, riding his side-by-side, working with his tools and going to his camp, which was a log cabin that he built himself. He also loved visiting with friends and family.
Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Dorothy Juutilainen, of L’Anse; children, Judith Heath, of Baraga, Christine (Ken) Beauchamp, of Baraga, Cheryl (Michael) Boyd, of Rhinelander, Wis., Rodney Heath, of Baraga, and Vickie (Todd) Kinnunen, of Gwinn; siblings, Daniel (Patricia) Lane, of Hazel Park, Jeanette Zanella, of Hurley, Wis., and Grace (William) McDonald, of Bessemer; stepbrothers, Jack (Tammy) Brozzo, of Ironwood, and Joe (Cindy) Brozzo, of Ironwood; brothers-in-law, William Marzack, of Duluth, Minn., and Reino Sullin, of Ironwood; grandchildren, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Angela, Derek, Patrick, Jesse, Jessica, Ryan, Rachael, Michaela, Krystle, Samantha, Austin, Jonathan, Bryan, Bradley, Ashley, Joshua, Caleb, Jeremiah and Nathaniel; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Arvo and Saima Juutilainen; stepmother, Mary Juutilainen; sisters, Darlene Sullin and Linda Marzack; brother, Gerald Juutilainen; and brother-in-law, Roland Zanella.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. EDT at the Jacobson Funeral Home in L’Anse, with the Rev. Judy Mattson officiating.
The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in the Assinins Cemetery.
The Jacobson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Friends may sign Bill’s guest book or send condolences at jacobsonfuneralhome.com.