IRONWOOD, Mich. - Carl Mathew Kinnunen, 92, of Ironwood, passed away as a result of an auto accident. Carl was born on Sept. 21, 1925 in South Carey, Wis. to Matt and Aliina Kinnunen.
He graduated from Hurley, Wis. High School as a member of the National Honor Society.
In 1943 Carl entered the Navy and fought in WWII in the Pacific Theater as Yeoman 1st Class. In 1950 Carl graduated with a BA from the University of Wisconsin.
Carl worked as an accountant with major construction companies and lived all over the world (Greenland, Spain, Panama, Vietnam, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Columbia and Mexico).
Carl was an active member of St Paul Lutheran Church, Little Finland, and a choral member of both.
He served on the Finlandia University Advisory Council. He was Secretary of the Irene Banfield Foundation which donates to charities within Iron and Gogebic counties. He was also a supporter of the VFW.
Carl was an avid gardener and had a daily routine of hiking in the summer and snowshoeing/cross-country skiing in the winter. Carl enthusiastically took pride in younger family members' achieving their goals.
He is survived by sisters, Wilma Tucker, Elaine Worman, Katherine Sandman (Elliott Havitz); two brothers, Edwin and Richard (Carol); sisters-in-law, Eleanor Kinnunen, LuDawn Kinnunen, Liisa Kinnunen; 21 nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his dear friend, Brian Tarro.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Gertrude Hewitt, Melba Rigoni; brothers Leonard, Donald and Raymond Kinnunen; brothers-in-law, Gerald Hewitt, Albino Rigoni, James Tucker, Donald Worman, Daniel Sandman, and sisters-in-law, Shirley Kinnunen, and Sharon Kinnunen.
Visitation for Carl will be on Friday, July 27, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m., with full military rites.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Little Finland or a charity of your own choice.
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Ironwood, is assisting the family.
For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.