Obituary for Toivo M. "Toby" Hantula
Toivo M. "Toby" Hantula, 73, of
202 Oak St., Hurley, died unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at
home. He was born Jan. 30, 1937, in Ironwood
Township, Mich., son of the late John and Signe (Kruutari) Hantula, attended
Roosevelt Grade School, and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1956.
He was employed at Holland Furnace and Ahonen
Lumber Co.in Ironwood, and Norco Window in Marenisco, Mich., retiring from White
Pine Copper Co. after thirty years of service in 1999. Toby was a member of the Church of the
Transfiguration-Episcopal in Ironwood, where he served as Junior Warden and
usher, and was the head of the Church Discretionary Fund. He was a past board
member of the North Hurley Community Credit Union, a member and past board
member of the Steelheaders Association, and a member of the former Trout
Unlimited. He also served as a volunteer for the Paavo Nurmi Marathon, and was
an avid fisherman, gardener and Detroit Lions fan. On June 25, 1960, he was married to the former
Karen M. Sargent at the Church of the Transfiguration-Episcopal by the late Rev.
Robert Kilborn. Toby and Karen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this
past June. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Brenda and
Barbara Hantula, both of Milwaukee; a brother, Bob, of Wakefield, Mich.;
numerous nieces and nephews; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Mark (Lynn) Sargent,
Wauwatosa, Bill (Karen) Sargent, Siren, Trish Sargent, Hurley, Mary Louise (Joe)
Armata, Brown Deer, and Tom Lundgren, Milwaukee; and his best friend, Robert
Bastman, of Ironwood. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Deborah, at birth; and two sisters-in-law, Judy Lundgren and Mary
Hantula. Out of respect for Toby's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec.
11, at 11 a.m., at the Church of the Transfiguration-Episcopal, with the Rev.
Gilbert Kangas officiating. Luncheon will follow in the church
annex. Private committal and inurnment will be in the
Hurley Cemetery in the spring. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
the Transfiguration Church Discretionary Fund. Online condolences may be given to Toby's
family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
202 Oak St., Hurley, died unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at
home. He was born Jan. 30, 1937, in Ironwood
Township, Mich., son of the late John and Signe (Kruutari) Hantula, attended
Roosevelt Grade School, and graduated from L.L. Wright High School in 1956.
He was employed at Holland Furnace and Ahonen
Lumber Co.in Ironwood, and Norco Window in Marenisco, Mich., retiring from White
Pine Copper Co. after thirty years of service in 1999. Toby was a member of the Church of the
Transfiguration-Episcopal in Ironwood, where he served as Junior Warden and
usher, and was the head of the Church Discretionary Fund. He was a past board
member of the North Hurley Community Credit Union, a member and past board
member of the Steelheaders Association, and a member of the former Trout
Unlimited. He also served as a volunteer for the Paavo Nurmi Marathon, and was
an avid fisherman, gardener and Detroit Lions fan. On June 25, 1960, he was married to the former
Karen M. Sargent at the Church of the Transfiguration-Episcopal by the late Rev.
Robert Kilborn. Toby and Karen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this
past June. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Brenda and
Barbara Hantula, both of Milwaukee; a brother, Bob, of Wakefield, Mich.;
numerous nieces and nephews; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Mark (Lynn) Sargent,
Wauwatosa, Bill (Karen) Sargent, Siren, Trish Sargent, Hurley, Mary Louise (Joe)
Armata, Brown Deer, and Tom Lundgren, Milwaukee; and his best friend, Robert
Bastman, of Ironwood. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Deborah, at birth; and two sisters-in-law, Judy Lundgren and Mary
Hantula. Out of respect for Toby's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec.
11, at 11 a.m., at the Church of the Transfiguration-Episcopal, with the Rev.
Gilbert Kangas officiating. Luncheon will follow in the church
annex. Private committal and inurnment will be in the
Hurley Cemetery in the spring. Relatives and friends may call at the church
from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to
the Transfiguration Church Discretionary Fund. Online condolences may be given to Toby's
family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.