As received from the Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Melvyn “Rowdy” Lyttinen, 89, of Tapiola, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on February 9, 2026, at Baraga Memorial Hospital. He was born on June 3, 1936, in Baltic, Michigan, to Sylvia (Wimpari) and Abram Lyttinen.
Melvyn grew up in Houghton County and graduated from the John A. Doelle School in Tapiola in 1954.
On March 14, 1970, He married Angeline Colombe, to whom he was happily married for 55 years, until her death in 2025. Together, they raised a loving family.
Melvyn was a huge fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Besides watching the Tigers, he enjoyed working the family farm, raising cattle, and maintaining the garden.
He was a long-time employee of Houghton-Portage Township School District, as a bus driver and custodian, until he retired after many many years. He loved taking students on field trips and keeping the schools looking great. He also loved playing on the local softball team.
Melvyn was a long-time member of the Otter Lake Volunteer Fire Department, assisting with many emergency calls over the years. He enjoyed warm Summer days and going on Sunday “Adventure” drives with the family, and always knew exactly where he was going.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Angeline Lyttinen, his parents, Sylvia and Abram Lyttinen, and his brothers Ray Wimpari and Gary Lyttinen.
He is survived by his sister Laverne Martilla, his children Lance Lyttinen, Nicole Lyttinen, Melanie (Joshua) Ong, and Laren Lyttinen, his grandchildren Isaac Ong and Isabella Ong, and his great-granddaughter Liliana Morales, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Melvyn had a strong, quiet heart and will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Melvyn will be held 11:00 am Saturday, February 14, 2026, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church of Chassell with Fr. Ben Hasse. Spring burial will be in the Elo Cemetery later this year, along with his wife Angeline.
Friends may call on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 4 to 6:00 pm at the Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel, where a parish prayer service will be held at 4:00 pm.
To view Melvyn’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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