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.
Alan Charles Heikkinen, a Dollar Bay graduate better known as Charlie, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Thursday, April 23, 2026. He was 80 years old, born on November 15, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hancock, Michigan, to Charles and Martha (Halkola) Heikkinen. It was the opening day of deer hunting season so Dr. A.J. Janis had to come back to town to deliver him.
Upon his birth, his paternal grandmother, Fredriika Heikkinen, a Finnish immigrant, as were all four of his grandparents, commented, “Toinen pikku sota poika”(another little soldier boy). She was prescient as many years later Charlie survived his stint as a platoon leader in Vietnam. He returned to study engineering at Michigan Tech, joined the Vets Club, and later moved to Florida where he became known as the Finnish finish carpenter. Carpentry was his forte having helped his father and grandfather build three houses as a teenager.
Eventually he returned to his roots, settling down on Tamarack Waterworks Road with Corrie Hohly, his partner of 35 years. They lived a quiet life in a wonderful old house surrounded by a stream, thimbleberry bushes, acres of trees and even some bears. Charlie’s hobbies included painting, music (Guitar and Ukelele), boating and reading voraciously. He especially loved his German Shepherd Tossu (Slipper). He was a kind and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor; whose presence comforted. He will be forever missed.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Denise and her husband Roy Hanks, by his brother-in-law, John Slining, his niece Heidi Slining and numerus aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is survived by his partner, Corrie Hohly, and her daughters, Adria and Sara: grandchildren; Amanda, Dakota, Sierra, Trey, and Gabriel. He is also survived by his sister, Donna Slining, and her children, Chad Slining (Julie) and Caitlin Sampson (Aaron), along with grandchildren Jenna and John Sampson. Additional survivors include his niece Elizabeth Corrigan and her children Bredon, Riley and Drew Elisabeth; his nephew, Jesse Heikkinen (Karen), their son Cameron (Brittney) and grandchildren Meliora and Solace; as well as many beloved cousins.
There will be a family and friends gathering to celebrate Charlie’s life at a later time.
To view Charlie’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net (http://www.memorialchapel.net/).,
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel has been assisting the family with the arrangements.
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