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As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:
Atlantic Mine
Mark E. Kilpela, 67, a resident of Atlantic Mine, passed away Saturday November 9, 2019, at Woodland Haven of Canal View- Houghton County where he had been a resident patient for the past year and a half.
Mark was born on November 8, 1952, in Laurium, a son of Howard and Lillian (Poyhonen) Kilpela. He was raised in Hancock and was a graduated of the Hancock High School with the class of 1971. He then attended Michigan Technological University where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1975.
On September 14, 1974, Mark was united in marriage to the former Christine Heinonen in Farmington, MI. The couple has resided in Atlantic Mine since 1975 where they raised their 15 children.
Since 1974, Mark had been employed by Michigan Technological University in the School of Technology before retiring from the Electrical Engineering Department in 2011, due to his illness.
Mr. Kilpela was an active member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Houghton where he had served on the board for a number of years. He also enjoyed the outdoors and was a former member of the Adams Township School Board.
Preceding him in death were his father Howard, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Surviving are:
His wife: Christine Kilpela of Atlantic Mine
His children:
Krista (Tim) Rajala of Atlantic Mine
Arthur (Christy) Kilpela of Redridge
Laura (Mark) Larson of Houghton
Trevor Kilpela of Chassell
Bridget (Darren) Kinnunen of Atlantic Mine
Trent (Sally) Kilpela of Traprock Valley
Betsy (John) Rajala of Atlantic Mine
Nora (Aaron) Helminen of Atlantic Mine
Bret (Katelyn) Kilpela of Dickinson, ND
Nels Kilpela of Dickinson, ND
Jana (Michael) Anderson of Atlantic Mine
Aaron Kilpela of Atlantic Mine
Marty Kilpela of Dickinson, ND
Richard Kilpela of Dickinson, ND
Ginny (Jeffrey) Torola of Mound, MN
62 very special grandchildren
His mother Lillian Kilpela of Hancock
His siblings: Ralph (Annette) Kilpela of Cokato, MN
Margaret (Darwin) Heinonen of Atlantic Mine
Timothy Kilpela of Hancock
Virginia (Roger) Pietila of Howell, MI
Daniel (Shannon) Kilpela of Dollar Bay
Laura (Harry) Leukuma of Delano, MN
David Kilpela of Chassell
His in-laws: Darwin (Margaret) Heinonen of Atlantic Mine
Kurt (Lynda) Heinonen of Laurium
Sarah (Robert) Baratono of Hancock
Numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins
Funeral services for Mark will be held 11 am Tuesday November 12, 2019, at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Houghton with David Taivalkoski to officiate. Spring burial will be in the Atlantic Mine Cemetery.
Friends may call on Monday November 11, 2019, from 4 to 8:00 pm and on Tuesday November 12, 2019, from 10 am until time of services at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church of Houghton.
To view Mark’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes of Hancock have been assisting the family with the arrangements.
