John L. Sokolowski, 82, of Ironwood, died Monday afternoon, March 9, 2009, in Hurley. He was born Oct. 23, 1926, in St. Paul, Minn. and came to Ironwood as an infant, where he attended Ironwood schools and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1944. He then served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged on Nov. 23, 1946. Following his discharge, John returned to the area where he worked at the Iron County Creamery. He then was employed in the Cary Mine for 15 years and retired from White Pine Copper Co. as a driller/blaster in 1986. He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and Ironwood American Legion Post 5, and a former member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and Hurley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1580. He was an avid woodcrafter and loved polka music and his Green Bay Packers. He also enjoyed fishing and cooking. On Feb. 26, 1949, he was married to the former Vivian S. Riihimaki at St. Michael's Church in Ironwood by the late Rev. Frank Ronkowski. Vivian survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Patty (James) King and Marie (Brian) Lindquist, both of Ironwood, and Joan (Warren) Minnema, Park Falls, Wis.; four sons, Jerry (Cheryl), Ironwood, Michael (Brenda), Eau Claire, Wis., David (Ludy), Jacksonville, N.C., and John (Susan), Oshkosh, Wis.; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Vieno Palomaki, Erwin Township; and nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Cremation will then take place. Spring inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday. Pallbearers will be Steve King, Bryan, David, Nathan and James Lee Sokolowski and Shawn Synkelma. Memorials are preferred to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry. To view John'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.