Obituary for Lawrence R. "Larry" Krankkala
Lawrence R. "Larry" Krankkala,
78, of Iron Belt, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in
Ashland. He was born Aug. 10, 1932, in Iron Belt, son
of the late Lauri and Ilona (Eilo) Krankkala, and attended the Iron Belt School
from grades 1-12, graduating in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained
as a gunner on a B-29. He was stationed in Colorado, Kansas, Korea, Okinawa and
Japan, and was honorably discharged on July 23, 1956. Larry worked as a custodian for the Hurley
School District for 35 years. He took great pride in his work and often assisted
the teachers with their projects. He was an avid outdoor enthusiast who ran
seven marathons-six of which were the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Iron County, Wis.
He also co-directed the Paavo Nurmi Marathon from 1974 through 1976. He skied in
five Birkebeiner Nordic ski races at Cable, Wis. and loved riding both mountain
and road bicycles. Larry particularly enjoyed kayaking on Alder Creek and Gile
Flowage and had a passion for photography and woodworking. His photographs and
wood crafts were cherished gifts. He established, cleared and maintained the
Krankkala Spur Cross Country Trail from Iron Belt to the North Country Trail. He
was a gentle man who quietly and effectively touched so many lives. To say he will be missed is an understatement. "And so we
place you in God's hands and know that He above will care for you and give you
peace as we leave you with our love." Surviving him are two children, Karen (Gary)
Ryskewecz, Ironwood, Mich., and Todd (Nancie) Krankkala, Hailey, Idaho; two
grandchildren, Scott Lawrence Krankkala, Gunnison, Colo., and Michele Lorain
Krankkala, Hailey; a brother, Donald Krankkala, Anthem Ariz., and sister, Ilona
Jean Tracy, Zion, Ill.; his former wife, Judy Lake, of Ironwood; an aunt, Ivy
Krankkala, Iron Belt; and two nieces, three nephews, and several
cousins. Besides his parents, Larry was preceded in
death by a sister, Gloria Buccanero; and two brothers, Gordon and Douglas
Krankkala. At the family's request, cremation has taken
place. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July
19, at 1 p.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Dr. Ardyth Kovacevich Johnson officiating. Committal and inurnment will follow in
Hillside Cemetery, Iron Belt, where full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon
until the time of service on Tuesday. To view Larry's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Mckevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
78, of Iron Belt, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in
Ashland. He was born Aug. 10, 1932, in Iron Belt, son
of the late Lauri and Ilona (Eilo) Krankkala, and attended the Iron Belt School
from grades 1-12, graduating in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained
as a gunner on a B-29. He was stationed in Colorado, Kansas, Korea, Okinawa and
Japan, and was honorably discharged on July 23, 1956. Larry worked as a custodian for the Hurley
School District for 35 years. He took great pride in his work and often assisted
the teachers with their projects. He was an avid outdoor enthusiast who ran
seven marathons-six of which were the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Iron County, Wis.
He also co-directed the Paavo Nurmi Marathon from 1974 through 1976. He skied in
five Birkebeiner Nordic ski races at Cable, Wis. and loved riding both mountain
and road bicycles. Larry particularly enjoyed kayaking on Alder Creek and Gile
Flowage and had a passion for photography and woodworking. His photographs and
wood crafts were cherished gifts. He established, cleared and maintained the
Krankkala Spur Cross Country Trail from Iron Belt to the North Country Trail. He
was a gentle man who quietly and effectively touched so many lives. To say he will be missed is an understatement. "And so we
place you in God's hands and know that He above will care for you and give you
peace as we leave you with our love." Surviving him are two children, Karen (Gary)
Ryskewecz, Ironwood, Mich., and Todd (Nancie) Krankkala, Hailey, Idaho; two
grandchildren, Scott Lawrence Krankkala, Gunnison, Colo., and Michele Lorain
Krankkala, Hailey; a brother, Donald Krankkala, Anthem Ariz., and sister, Ilona
Jean Tracy, Zion, Ill.; his former wife, Judy Lake, of Ironwood; an aunt, Ivy
Krankkala, Iron Belt; and two nieces, three nephews, and several
cousins. Besides his parents, Larry was preceded in
death by a sister, Gloria Buccanero; and two brothers, Gordon and Douglas
Krankkala. At the family's request, cremation has taken
place. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July
19, at 1 p.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Dr. Ardyth Kovacevich Johnson officiating. Committal and inurnment will follow in
Hillside Cemetery, Iron Belt, where full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon
until the time of service on Tuesday. To view Larry's obituary online, sign his
guestbook or express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Mckevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.