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As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:
Paul Aho, 71, of Hancock passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024 after battling Parkinson’s and other challenges over the past 20+ years.
Paul was born March 4, 1953 in Hancock, Michigan to Oliver and Irma (Laitinen) Aho of Ripley.
Paul was raised in Ripley and graduated from Hancock Central High School in 1971. Paul loved sports. He was a successful athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He loved his Packers and held stock in the team and even owned a piece of turf from Lambeau field.
After high school he chose to work for a few years at FW Woolworth and JJ Newberry before attending Michigan Tech. He graduated from Tech with a BS in Business Administration majoring in Information Systems when that field was in its infancy. After graduation,Paul moved to Chicago to work in the accounting industry as a computer consultant at Ernst and Whinney. While in Chicago he earned a Masters degree in Economics from DePaul University. In September 1984, Paul returned to his alma mater as a Lecturer in the School of Business at Michigan Tech in Information Systems where he remained employed for 21 years. While at MTU, Paul was the catalyst and designer of a departmental computer lab and remained its director until his retirement. Paul loved his students and once received an award for his teaching prowess. Previous students often relay stories about Paul’s unique and entertaining teaching methods.
Paul was also an entrepreneur and owned a computer consulting business called Competitive Edge with his wife at that time, Mary Jane Lowney. They served many local clients in automating their businesses in the early years of computerization. Paul, especially, was integrally involved in bringing the internet to the Copper Country.
Paul was brilliant, hilarious, unique, and stubborn. All of his friends and family have their own favorite Paul story, whether it be from deer camp, family outings, sports teams, or students. We are grateful that his suffering has ended and that he is at peace.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irma and Oliver, his sister Susan Laux, and his brother-in-law Bob Brunet.
He is survived by his children Lyndsey Aho of Hancock, and Alex Aho of Detroit, his former wife Mary Jane Lowney and her children Nick (Kristine) Mayra of Grand Rapids and Jeff (Lesley) Mayra of Chicago and their children, his sisters Mary Brunet of Ripley and Ruth (Greg) Wernert of Springfield, IL and his brother-in-law Phil Laux of Greeneville, TN and their children.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 12:00 to 2:00 at the Memorial Chapel in Hancock followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00. Burial will be immediately following at the Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock.
To view Pual’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services of Hancock is assisting the family with the arrangements.
