Obituary: Clarence “Dan” Kemppainen

Funeral services for Clarence “Dan” Kemppainen, 89, of Atlantic Mine, who passed away January 30, 2019, will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic Mine. Visitation will be 1hour prior to the service on Wednesday in the church. Arrangements are being handled by the Mountain View Mortuary of South Range, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.

ATLANTIC MINE

Clarence “Dan” Kemppainen, 89, a resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock.

He was born May 11, 1929, in Atlantic Mine, a son of the late John and Amanda (Tapani) Kemppainen, and was a 1947 graduate of the Jeffers High School.

Dan was a veteran of the US Army serving during the Korean War.

Following his discharge from the military, Dan moved to Detroit where he married the former Jerleen Fleury on March 29, 1953. The couple resided in Detroit and Redford Township where Dan was employed with Michigan Bell Telephone Company as a lineman from 1953 to 1974 when he was transferred back to the area. The couple made their home in Atlantic Mine. Dan retired from Michigan Bell as a supervisor in 1986. Jerleen passed away March 16, 2003.

Dan was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Atlantic Mine and the Telephone Pioneers of America. He enjoyed golfing and fishing but will always be remembered as an avid vegetable gardener. He was one of the founders of the local farmers markets at the Copper Country Mall and the Tori Market in Hancock. Dan and Jerleen sold vegetables at the market for many years. They enjoyed the people and camaraderie of the market.

Dan is survived by three sons, Brian of Calumet, Mark (Ellen) of Denmark, Wisc., and David of Green Bay, Wisc.; a sister, Verna Schaeffer of Lake Tahoe, Calif; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents and wife, Dan was also preceded in death by a son, John; two brothers, Ralph and Arnold; and a sister, Viola Koski.

The family would like to thank Woodland Haven and the staff at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility for the exceptional care Dan received. Memorials may be made to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, PO Box 1, Atlantic Mine, MI 49905, in memory of Clarence Kemppainen.

Funeral services are being planned for the month of May at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic Mine with burial in the Atlantic Mine Cemetery. Arrangements will be announced at a later date by the Mountain View Mortuary of South Range, Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.