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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
MOHAWK – David (Dave) Paul Latvala, 69, passed away peacefully at his home on July 5, 2020, with family by his side, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Dave was born on May 26, 1951 in Laurium, the son of the late Victor and Rose (Stiglich) Latvala. He graduated from Calumet High School in the class of 1969.
Dave worked at the Daily Mining Gazette for 17 years. During this time he took flying lessons, and received his pilot’s license. Dave switched careers and sailed Great Lakes freighters for 5 years. In 1995, he was hired as an Able Seaman/Crane Operator for Isle Royal National Park Service aboard the M/V Ranger III, retiring in 2016. He operated a snowmobile trail groomer in Keweenaw County, and served as a member of the Keweenaw County Zoning Board for several years. Dave enjoyed hunting, fishing, flying and snowmobiling in his younger years. Dave was a fan of the Red Wings, Tigers, and Green Bay Packers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James and sister-in-law Rosalyn Latvala, nephew Darrell Latvala, niece Denise Latvala, and great nephew Michael Latvala.
Surviving are: loving daughter Amy Latvala (Loukas Wilson) of Port Clyde, Maine; step-son Matthew (Liisa) Sutinen of Rice Lake, Michigan; Jeffrey Sutinen of Calumet, MI, nephew Darrin Latvala, great nephews Jesse and Oakley, great niece Margaret, all of Calumet, MI; his Aunt and Uncle Dorothy (Stiglich) and Leonard Dreon, several cousins all of lower Michigan and special friend Phyllis Bergh of the Garden Peninsula near Manistique whom David married in 1990 in Keweenaw County and divorced in 2008.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday July 9, 2020 in Section H of the Lake View Cemetery with Father Gracious Pulimoottil to officiate.
Online condolences can be posted to eericksoncrowleypeterson.com
The Erickson Crowley Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements
