HOUGHTON - Wilfred W. Torvinen, 89, of Houghton, passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on Friday morning October 28, 2011, at the Cypress Manor Nursing Home in Hancock, where he had been a resident patient since July.

Wilfred Torvinen was born on March 21, 1922, in Atlantic Mine, the son of the late John and Matilda (Leiviska) Torvinen. As a child he attended the Adams Township School and later he was a student at Painesdale High School.

Wilfred worked various jobs to help support his parents and sister, including working at the Civilian Conservation Corps at the age of 16 (1939-1941). He continued to provide for his family by securing employment in Detroit at the Ex-Cell-O Corporation in 1941. Wilfred proudly served his country with the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer during World War II until his honorable discharge in 1946.

Following his time in the service, he returned to Atlantic Mine and was united in marriage to the former Hazel Coponen on May 18, 1946. The couple resided in Obenhoff prior to moving to Ontonagon where they lived and raised their family for over fifty years.

Wilfred was employed by Champion International Paper Mill for 34 years and retired in 1984. Wilfred and Hazel spent many happy retirement years wintering in Florida returning to the Atlantic Mine area every summer. They then returned to the U.P., presently residing at Arbor Green in Houghton.

Wilfred was a member of the Ontonagon Apostolic Lutheran Church where he served as a Trustee on the Board. Later he became a member of the Atlantic Mine Apostolic Lutheran Church.

He enjoyed being outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. A gifted carpenter, Wilfred meticulously constructed several houses, a lovely cottage in the woods and helped many others build or remodel their homes.

Preceding him in death were his parents; infant son John; and daughters Judith Torvinen and Barbara Heikkinen-Therrian.

Surviving are his wife Hazel Torvinen of Houghton; children James (Joyce) Torvinen of Ontonagon, Robert (Priscilla) Torvinen of Linden, Michael (Kamela) Torvinen of Farmington Hills, Mich., Michelle (Kevin) Hupp of Chassell, Julie (Jeffery) Thompson of Garden City, Mich; 23 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; sister Helen Norling of Hutchinson, Minn.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Wilfred will be held at 11 a.m. today, October 31, 2011, at the Atlantic Mine Apostolic Lutheran Church with Herbert Jarvi and Nathan Ruonavaara officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service followed by a luncheon at the church. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery in Ontonagon