Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
DOLLAR BAY
Harvey Gene Filppula, 80, a former Dollar Bay resident, died on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, at the Angels Touch Assisted Living for Dementia in DePere, Wisconsin, after a long and difficult battle with vascular dementia.
He was born on April 2, 1937, in Mass City, Michigan, to Onni and Edith (Kangas) Filppula and was a 1955 graduate of the Mass City High School.
Harvey married the former Norma Joos in Ontonagon, on June 11, 1960. For nearly all of their married life they made their home in Dollar Bay, Michigan.
Harvey was a member of First Lutheran Church of Dollar Bay. He was an integral part of the Dollar Bay community, the face of Dollar Bay schools, and well known throughout the Copper Country. He was an accomplished educator, basketball fanatic, volunteer fireman, and a board member of Lutheran Brotherhood (now Thrivent). He never sat still … his mantra was “Don’t Do Nothing!” Harvey was, and still is, a respected and much loved administrator, coach, teacher, and mentor. He loved the outdoors and camping with his 5th wheel. He was a microbrew connoisseur and delved into wine and beer making. Harvey’s thirst for knowledge and love of people defined and centered his life.
Harvey was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Filppula; his mother, Edith Filppula; and his father, Onni Filppula.
Surviving are his daughters, Karen (Lori McArthur) Filppula of Green Bay, Laura (Lynnette) Filppula of Dearborn Heights, and Diane (Matt) Filppula-McNab of Dearborn Heights; several grandchildren, Noah and Joshua Filppula-McArthur; Aela, Alexandra and Lindsay McNab; Dustin (Marie) Cleveland and Nate Walcher; and great-grandchild, Dorian Cleveland; brother, Douglas Filppula of Ontonagon; and sister, Cathy (Rich) Luxton of Green Bay and niece, Brenda (Brian) Voss of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; and many extended family and friends.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Angels Touch Assisted Living for Dementia in DePere, Wisconsin for their wonderful care and compassion, and to Heartland Hospice for their guidance and assistance over the last four months of Harvey’s life.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2018, in the First Lutheran Church in Dollar Bay, Michigan, with Pastor Bucky Beach to officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 27th at the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday in the church. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Harvey Filppula to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or online at https://www.dementiasociety.org/harvey-gene-filppula.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.
