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Paul Kunnari, 84, a resident of Florida Location passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Omega House in Houghton.
He was born on March 24, 1935 in Calumet to Melvin and Alice (Ollila) Kunnari.
He attended the Calumet Public Schools.
Following high school, he began working for the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company until being laid off in 1957. In April of 1958 he was drafted into the United State Army, where he was stationed in Korea. He was then honorably discharged in 1960. After being discharged Paul, began working for the local mining companies. He worked for C&H Mining Company, the Kingston Mine, White Pine, and the Homestake Mine, retiring in 1976.
In 1978, he enrolled in Suomi College where he earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration.
After graduating from Suomi College, Paul began working at the Calumet Air Force Base, where he started as a maintenance mechanic and worked his way to civilian supervisor. He retired from the Air Force Base in 2000.
On July 5, 1958, he was united in marriage to Marcelline Schmitt at the Sacred Heart Church in Calumet.
He loved to go fishing and loved his country music listening to Elmer every Saturday night and Dick Storm every Sunday morning.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Alice Kunnari, his sister, Jean, and his brother, Joel.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Knights of Columbus #1245, and a social member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters Sacred Heart Court #517.
He is survived by:
his loving wife of 60 years, Marcy of Laurium
Daughters: Mary Kay Craig (Bill) Ehrman of Minneapolis, MN and Kathie (Joe) Rowe of Calumet
Grandchildren: Jessica (Nic Sladek) Mattson, Brandon (Karen) Mattson, Maile (Dustin Mottonen) Chandonais, Mandy Chandonais, and Brittany Craig
Great grandchildren: McKenzie, Dylan, Keygan, Ella, Renny, and Jukka
His brother: Ralph Kunnari of San Francisco, CA
And numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church in Calumet with Father Gracious Pulimoottil to officiate and Deacon Art Stancher to assist. Friends may call at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet on Thursday May 2, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A parish rosary will be led by the United Hearts of Jesus & Mary Rosary Group at 7:30 pm followed by a parish prayer vigil.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.
