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ONNELA LOCATION
Kenneth A. Tormala, 79, a resident of Onnela Location, Atlantic Mine, died December 19, 2017. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 18, 2018, at the Mountain View Mortuary in South Range with Pastor Kenneth Toth to officiate. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of service on Friday in the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery in South Range.
Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
ONNELA LOCATION
Kenneth A. Tormala, 79, a resident of Onnela Location, Atlantic Mine, Michigan died peacefully to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at his home under the care of his loving family.
He was born on November 4, 1938, in his home in Brooklyn Location – Baltic, Michigan, a son of Ahti and Ellen (Waltanen) Tormala. He was united in marriage to Mary Niemi on March 9, 1963, by the Rev. Onni Koski in Calumet, Michigan.
He earned his GED from Jeffers High School in Painesdale and graduated from Suomi College in 1971 with an Associate’s degree and from Michigan Technological University in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science with a History option.
Ken worked as an Auto Body Repairman in various Copper Country shops, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and also owned and operated Ken’s Auto Body at his home in Onnela. He was also employed as a Headstart Teacher and worked for Northern Hardwoods in various positions.
Ken attended Grace Lutheran Church in South Range and Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Hancock and the Gospel Tabernacle in Laurium. He was a member of the American Bible Society, sending Bibles to many Nations over the years and was an Associate Life Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. His heart was always with veterans and he served as a volunteer for many years purchasing items, preparing and sending care packages for troops deployed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was a Prayer Warrior, praying daily for those on his prayer list for 40 years. He enjoyed metal detecting with his brother John. He played guitar and accordion with family and friends. He loved animals and fed birds in all seasons. He was a life-long fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
He enjoyed MTU hockey and attended games often and loved to listen to them on the radio.
Ken is survived by his loving wife, Mary (Niemi) Tormala of Onnela; three sons, Kevin (Julie) Tormala of South Range, Joseph (Sheila) Tormala of Chassell and Jeffrey (Alyssa) Tormala of Oregon City, Oregon; four grandchildren: Katrina Tormala, Stephen Tormala, Rachel Tormala and Jaci Tormala; and a great granddaughter River Ann Russell; two brothers Gary (Joyce) Tormala and John Tormala of Toivola; sisters-in-law Joan Perry of Ishpeming and Lorelei Niemi of White Pine; brothers-in-law, Stanley Niemi of Ontonagon, William Forsman of Hancock and Earl Harden of Boca Raton, Florida; and an uncle Michael “Willie” Waltanen of Toivola; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins; and God children Lora, Duane, LiZanne and Michael. Also grieving is his buddy “Peppy”, a Standard Schnauzer.
Besides his parents, Ken was also preceded in death by his infant brother Raymond Tormala (six days old) and brother Paul Tormala; and sisters-in-law, Delores Pence, Arlene Harden, Teresa Tormala, Kathleen Forsman and Nancy Niemi; brothers-in-law, Lawrence Niemi and Harold Pence; and God children, Natalie and Peggy Sue.
The family expresses deep thanks to Aspiris Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice for their loving and caring staff who attended to Ken’s needs.
A funeral service will be held in the spring of 2018 at Mountain View Mortuary in South Range with Pastor Kenneth Toth to officiate. Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery in South Range, Michigan. Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Services, Inc. On-line condolences may be expressed to the Tormala Family at antilafuneral.comor written expressions may be sent to: Mary Tormala, 48649 Larsen Road, Atlantic Mine, Michigan 49905.
