Obituary: James Aittama

As received from the Pearce Funeral Home:

Jim M. Aittama, 79, of Lake Linden, passed away at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota on March 25, 2020, with family by his side.

                He was born in Lake Linden on April 23, 1940, a son of Richard and Lillian (Goninan) Aittama.  He was a 1958 graduate of Lake Linden-Hubbell High School. 

                Jim earned his license in surveying from the State of Michigan and worked as a surveyor for the Houghton County Road Commission for 30 years.  He also served on the Lake Linden Village council since 1980, as a trustee and president.  He was instrumental in starting what is now the Lake Linden Village Park.

                He was married to Christine Kangas on July 20, 1963 at the Lutheran Church in Baltic.

                Jim liked to play Keno.  He was an avid fisherman.  He loved to cook and to garden.  He enjoyed 25 years of retirement travel, visiting family in Virginia, Alaska, and New York.

                He was preceded in death by: his parents, a daughter-Gail, and 3 brothers-Richard, Albert, and Charles.

                He is survived by: his wife-Christine Aittama, a daughter-Paula (Jeff) Brannick of Yorktown, VA; 2 grandchildren-Kevin (Maddie) Brannick and Jason Brannick, along with grand dog-Laika, all of Blacksburg, VA; a sister-Sandra (Harry) Cox of Canandaigua, NY; 2 sisters-in-law- Mary Aittama and Alice Aittama; and several nieces and nephews.

                Due to restrictions on public gatherings, the funeral service will be held at a later date.  Burial will be at the LakeView Cemetery in Calumet.  The Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden is in charge of arrangements.

                Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools Foundation.

Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com