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.