Obituary for Roy R. Auvinen
Roy R. Auvinen, 77, of E6254
Airport Road, Ironwood Township, died unexpectedly Wednesday, March 10, 2010, in
Ironwood. He was born March 27, 1932, in Ironwood, son
of the late Charles and Mary (Saari) Auvinen, attended Roosevelt Grade School,
and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1950. While in high school, Roy
excelled in football and was a member of the 1950 North UP All Star Football
Team. He was also a member of the 1950 All UP Track Team. Roy was married to the former Kathy J.
Valesano on July 26, 1952, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in
Wakefield. He then entered the U.S. Army on Aug. 5, 1952,
proudly serving his country in Germany during the Korean Conflict. During that
time he played on the Army football team and traveled extensively throughout
Europe. Following his honorable discharge as a
corporal on July 17, 1954, he returned to Ironwood Township where he co/owned
and operated Auvinen's Grocery on Airport Road until the store closed in 1972.
He then was employed in building construction for numerous contractors until his
retirement in 1994. Roy was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Ironwood, where he served as a past usher. He enjoyed hunting and
fishing and watching sports, and especially enjoyed following his
beloved grandchildren in all of their sporting activities. He was a loving and
caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all, and
will be dearly missed. Surviving are his wife, Kathy, of 57 years; a
daughter, Maureen Nordine, Bakersfield, Calif.; two sons, Roy Robert (Cheryl),
Dutton, Ala., and Peter (Patti), Ironwood Township; six grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; brothers-and-sisters-in-law,
Richard and Mary Ann Valesano, Hoyt Lakes, Minn., Eino Nyman, Phelps, Wis., Mary
and Merlin Halberg, Cedarburg, Wis., and Helvi Auvinen, Ironwood; and special
friends, Rev. Mark and Ruth Ortman, Ironwood Township. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a brother, Ed Auvinen, and three sisters, Phoebe Nyman, Viola Niemi and Nora
Jakola. In accordance with Roy's wishes, cremation has
taken place. Memorial services will be held Monday, March
15, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 111 So Curry St., in Ironwood, with
the Rev. Francis Strong officiating. Committal will take place at the church, where
full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5
Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship
hall. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the Roy R. Auvinen Football Scholarship Fund, in care of Ironwood
Area Schools, 638 E. Ayer St., Ironwood, Mich. 49938, or to Regional Hospice
Services, N-10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Roy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
Airport Road, Ironwood Township, died unexpectedly Wednesday, March 10, 2010, in
Ironwood. He was born March 27, 1932, in Ironwood, son
of the late Charles and Mary (Saari) Auvinen, attended Roosevelt Grade School,
and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1950. While in high school, Roy
excelled in football and was a member of the 1950 North UP All Star Football
Team. He was also a member of the 1950 All UP Track Team. Roy was married to the former Kathy J.
Valesano on July 26, 1952, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in
Wakefield. He then entered the U.S. Army on Aug. 5, 1952,
proudly serving his country in Germany during the Korean Conflict. During that
time he played on the Army football team and traveled extensively throughout
Europe. Following his honorable discharge as a
corporal on July 17, 1954, he returned to Ironwood Township where he co/owned
and operated Auvinen's Grocery on Airport Road until the store closed in 1972.
He then was employed in building construction for numerous contractors until his
retirement in 1994. Roy was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran
Church in Ironwood, where he served as a past usher. He enjoyed hunting and
fishing and watching sports, and especially enjoyed following his
beloved grandchildren in all of their sporting activities. He was a loving and
caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all, and
will be dearly missed. Surviving are his wife, Kathy, of 57 years; a
daughter, Maureen Nordine, Bakersfield, Calif.; two sons, Roy Robert (Cheryl),
Dutton, Ala., and Peter (Patti), Ironwood Township; six grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; brothers-and-sisters-in-law,
Richard and Mary Ann Valesano, Hoyt Lakes, Minn., Eino Nyman, Phelps, Wis., Mary
and Merlin Halberg, Cedarburg, Wis., and Helvi Auvinen, Ironwood; and special
friends, Rev. Mark and Ruth Ortman, Ironwood Township. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a brother, Ed Auvinen, and three sisters, Phoebe Nyman, Viola Niemi and Nora
Jakola. In accordance with Roy's wishes, cremation has
taken place. Memorial services will be held Monday, March
15, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 111 So Curry St., in Ironwood, with
the Rev. Francis Strong officiating. Committal will take place at the church, where
full military honors will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5
Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship
hall. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to the Roy R. Auvinen Football Scholarship Fund, in care of Ironwood
Area Schools, 638 E. Ayer St., Ironwood, Mich. 49938, or to Regional Hospice
Services, N-10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. To view Roy's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.