Obituary: Francis Edwin Tossava

As received from the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel:

Francis Edwin “Toss” Tossava, age 84 of Alston, MI passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at UP Health System, Marquette, MI with his loving family by his side. He was born in Hancock, MI on December 27, 1938 the son of the late Edwin and Violet (Sallinen) Tossava. Toss attended Alston and Baraga schools. He joined the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 and later served in the United States Air Force. On June 6, 1959, he married the former Barbara Seppanen in Laurium, MI. During his stint with the Air Force, he was stationed overseas in Formosa, which is now known as Taiwan. Following his discharge, he worked in his father’s welding shop for Pettibone Corp as a fabricator and truck driver. Toss bought his 1^st semi , a “Marmon”, in 1969 and contracted with International Transport which was later bought by Snyder. Then in 1976 built a semi “Kenworth kit truck”. He logged 3.5 million miles without ever having an accident or getting a ticket. Overall, he had owned 5 trucks. During that time, Toss also hauled componants from Houston to Florida for the Magellan Project. He also hauled Titan missiles from Denver to California for the Air Force. He designed and built a trailer to haul C130 aircraft, and had consulted and flew to France to assist with transporting of a C130 Aircraft, for them. After Barb raised their children, she enjoyed traveling with him cross country. Toss retired from truck driving in 2000 due to injuries he received as a passenger in a car accident. Following his “retirement”, he was Constable of Laird Township, worked at Mike Huhta’s sawmill in Alston, and at the Alston Transfer Station. He was instrumental in starting up the Bay Ambulance and was also a board member. He was a member of Mission United Lutheran Church, Pelkie and the Alston VFW Post #7646. Toss enjoyed telling jokes to everyone he met and was most recently known for warming up the crowd at “Church in the Valley”, for incoming comedians. In his spare time he enjoyed working on lawn mowers and snow blowers, collecting coins and copper. The saying was” if dad couldn’t fix it, it wasn’t worth saving”.

Toss is survived by his loving wife Barbara, son Dean (Charlene) Tossava of Leesburg, FL, and their children Kim Tossava, and children Tyler, Liam, and Jayde, Michael (Harvest) Tossava and children Nevan, and Eclipse, Amy (Dane) Shockley and son Copper, and Heather “Header” Tossava, daughter Shelley Bianco of L’Anse and her children Ashley Bianco and daughter Jozie, Brittany Bianco (Jer Klug) and her children Autumn, Hunter, and Ethan, daughter Stephanie (Kurt) Maki of Houghton and their children Lindsay (Derek Rye) LaBerge, Ryan (Hannah) LaBerge, Logan Maki, Kody Maki, and Deanna Maki, sisters Phyllis (Greg) Miron of MN, Brenda (Pat) Carroll of NE, and Fern (Tim) Michaels of MI, brothers-ln-law and sisters-in-law, Jim (Carol) Seppanen, Joan Lang, and Dug (Bernice) Goble. Numerous nieces, nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Iris and Charlie Pietila, brother-in-law Jim Lang, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ruth (Bill) Kehoe, and brother-in-law Ronald Seppanen.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 10, 2023 at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse with Pastor Kelly Ylitalo officiating. The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Copper Country veterans will conduct military honors at 12:45 p.m. Immediately following the services, the family invites friends to join them for dessert and coffee in the Harrington Gathering Room, located at the funeral home.

Toss’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com

The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel L’Anse has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.