HANCOCK - Willard Robert Aho, 98, of Sing Sing Location, after having sung and worshipped the Lord, passed on to glory on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.
He was born in Hancock on July 5, 1911, to the late Swante and Aina (Linja) Aho. The family then lived in Lake Mine, Rockland and Ontonagon before moving to Detroit when he was 11. He then graduated from Highland Park High School and attended Michigan State University.
After having worked in the CCC Camp in Gwinn during the Depression, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in Detroit, retiring 38 years later as a supervisor.
He married Lempi Esther Erickson on Jan. 26, 1940. They made their home in Detroit until retiring to Hancock in 1978. Lempi died on Aug. 19, 2005.
Willard was a member of the Hope Fellowship Church in Houghton. He loved the Lord Jesus fervently and his greatest joy was to be involved in the work of each of the churches that he attended, having served as a teacher, Sunday School superintendent, choir and board member. He sought for unity in the churches. He also served on the board of the former New Creation Ministries and was a former member of the Golden Kiwanis Club. His other passions were baseball, playing fast pitch well into his 50s; writing letters to the editor to The Daily Mining Gazette regarding history, especially American. Active most of his life, he still enjoyed shoveling his yard and roof until almost 90.
He was predeceased by five brothers, Arvo, Edwin, Ernie, Martin Aho and Jack Holzhauer.
He is survived by four children, David of Watrousville, Mich., Robert (Martha) of Spartanburg, S.C., Mary Prather of Hancock, and Daniel (Katia) of Holly, Mich.; a sister, Joyce (Earl) Saarela of Bootjack and Brighton, Mich; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Hope Fellowship with Rev. Rodney Johnson to officiate.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
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Originally published 20 Aug 2009 in The Daily Mining Gazette newspaper of Houghton County, Michigan, USA.
He was born in Hancock on July 5, 1911, to the late Swante and Aina (Linja) Aho. The family then lived in Lake Mine, Rockland and Ontonagon before moving to Detroit when he was 11. He then graduated from Highland Park High School and attended Michigan State University.
After having worked in the CCC Camp in Gwinn during the Depression, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in Detroit, retiring 38 years later as a supervisor.
He married Lempi Esther Erickson on Jan. 26, 1940. They made their home in Detroit until retiring to Hancock in 1978. Lempi died on Aug. 19, 2005.
Willard was a member of the Hope Fellowship Church in Houghton. He loved the Lord Jesus fervently and his greatest joy was to be involved in the work of each of the churches that he attended, having served as a teacher, Sunday School superintendent, choir and board member. He sought for unity in the churches. He also served on the board of the former New Creation Ministries and was a former member of the Golden Kiwanis Club. His other passions were baseball, playing fast pitch well into his 50s; writing letters to the editor to The Daily Mining Gazette regarding history, especially American. Active most of his life, he still enjoyed shoveling his yard and roof until almost 90.
He was predeceased by five brothers, Arvo, Edwin, Ernie, Martin Aho and Jack Holzhauer.
He is survived by four children, David of Watrousville, Mich., Robert (Martha) of Spartanburg, S.C., Mary Prather of Hancock, and Daniel (Katia) of Holly, Mich.; a sister, Joyce (Earl) Saarela of Bootjack and Brighton, Mich; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Hope Fellowship with Rev. Rodney Johnson to officiate.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
---
Originally published 20 Aug 2009 in The Daily Mining Gazette newspaper of Houghton County, Michigan, USA.
HANCOCK - Willard Robert Aho, 98, of Sing Sing Location, after having sung and worshipped the Lord, passed on to glory on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility.
He was born in Hancock on July 5, 1911, to the late Swante and Aina (Linja) Aho. The family then lived in Lake Mine, Rockland and Ontonagon before moving to Detroit when he was 11. He then graduated from Highland Park High School and attended Michigan State University.
After having worked in the CCC Camp in Gwinn during the Depression, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in Detroit, retiring 38 years later as a supervisor.
He married Lempi Esther Erickson on Jan. 26, 1940. They made their home in Detroit until retiring to Hancock in 1978. Lempi died on Aug. 19, 2005.
Willard was a member of the Hope Fellowship Church in Houghton. He loved the Lord Jesus fervently and his greatest joy was to be involved in the work of each of the churches that he attended, having served as a teacher, Sunday School superintendent, choir and board member. He sought for unity in the churches. He also served on the board of the former New Creation Ministries and was a former member of the Golden Kiwanis Club. His other passions were baseball, playing fast pitch well into his 50s; writing letters to the editor to The Daily Mining Gazette regarding history, especially American. Active most of his life, he still enjoyed shoveling his yard and roof until almost 90.
He was predeceased by five brothers, Arvo, Edwin, Ernie, Martin Aho and Jack Holzhauer.
He is survived by four children, David of Watrousville, Mich., Robert (Martha) of Spartanburg, S.C., Mary Prather of Hancock, and Daniel (Katia) of Holly, Mich.; a sister, Joyce (Earl) Saarela of Bootjack and Brighton, Mich; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Hope Fellowship with Rev. Rodney Johnson to officiate.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
---
Originally published 20 Aug 2009 in The Daily Mining Gazette newspaper of Houghton County, Michigan, USA.
He was born in Hancock on July 5, 1911, to the late Swante and Aina (Linja) Aho. The family then lived in Lake Mine, Rockland and Ontonagon before moving to Detroit when he was 11. He then graduated from Highland Park High School and attended Michigan State University.
After having worked in the CCC Camp in Gwinn during the Depression, he joined the U.S. Postal Service in Detroit, retiring 38 years later as a supervisor.
He married Lempi Esther Erickson on Jan. 26, 1940. They made their home in Detroit until retiring to Hancock in 1978. Lempi died on Aug. 19, 2005.
Willard was a member of the Hope Fellowship Church in Houghton. He loved the Lord Jesus fervently and his greatest joy was to be involved in the work of each of the churches that he attended, having served as a teacher, Sunday School superintendent, choir and board member. He sought for unity in the churches. He also served on the board of the former New Creation Ministries and was a former member of the Golden Kiwanis Club. His other passions were baseball, playing fast pitch well into his 50s; writing letters to the editor to The Daily Mining Gazette regarding history, especially American. Active most of his life, he still enjoyed shoveling his yard and roof until almost 90.
He was predeceased by five brothers, Arvo, Edwin, Ernie, Martin Aho and Jack Holzhauer.
He is survived by four children, David of Watrousville, Mich., Robert (Martha) of Spartanburg, S.C., Mary Prather of Hancock, and Daniel (Katia) of Holly, Mich.; a sister, Joyce (Earl) Saarela of Bootjack and Brighton, Mich; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at Hope Fellowship with Rev. Rodney Johnson to officiate.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
---
Originally published 20 Aug 2009 in The Daily Mining Gazette newspaper of Houghton County, Michigan, USA.
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