Henry B. "Benny" Eskola, 91, a longtime Saxon, Wis. resident, died Tuesday evening, June 30, 2009, in Ironwood, Mich. He was born Oct. 15, 1917, in Marengo, Wis., son of the late John and Ida (Heikkila) Eskola, attended school there, and worked on the family farm. He entered the U.S. Army on Feb. 5, 1942, serving in the European-African- Middle Eastern Theater of Operations during World War II, receiving, among numerous medals and citations, the Bronze Star Medal for valor in action, and was honorably discharged on June 3, 1945. Following his discharge, Henry farmed in Saxon for many years, worked in the Montreal Mine until the mine closed, and retired from White Pine Copper Co. in 1979. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ironwood and a lifetime member of Iron County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580. He also belonged to AARP and the Bayfield Electric Co-op, and was a volunteer in the Saxon Senior Citizen Meal Program for many years. He enjoyed deer hunting and gardening. Henry was married to the former Taletta D. Reynolds on March 25, 1949, in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. She preceded him in death on May 3, 1983. He then was married to the former Irene J. Sillanpaa on Oct. 4, 1986, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kimball, by the Rev. Martin Kaare. She preceded him in death on April 16, 2007. Surviving are two sons, Richard (Carleen), Rusk, Texas, and Gary (Rose), Kimball; a daughter, Sarah (Robert) Soderman, Ironwood; seven grandchildren, Benji Eskola, Green Bay, Robert Eskola, Milwaukee, David Eskola, Florida, Devin Eskola, Rusk, Texas, Jonathan and Timothy Soderman, both of Ironwood, and Maria Soderman (John Scott), Antigo; three great-grandchildren, Jacob Eskola, Rowan Wagner and Hailey Johnson; two step-daughters, Sherry Boesler, Wautoma, and Sally (Bart) Domin, Ironwood Township; two sisters, Martha Franke, Milwaukee, and Pauline Irwin, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and wives, Henry was preceded in death by brothers, Arvid, Otto, Emil, Jacob, Wayne, John and Reino; and sisters, Helen Knoll, Esther Anderson, Selma McEnry, Laila Hill, Elma Ostrom and Florence Zampol. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 6, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 111 S. Curry St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Francis Strong officiating. Committal will take place at the church, where full military rites will be accorded by the combined Hurley American Legion Post 5 and Iron Co. VFW Post 1580 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall. Cremation will take place. Private inurnment will be in the Hurley Cemetery. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service on Monday. Pallbearers will be John Brinnington, Gene and Michael Henning, Jonathan Soderman, Jacob Eskola and Walter Borowiec. To view Henry'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