Walter Erkkila

Walter A. Erkkila, 92, of the Town of Lakeside, WI, died peacefully at his home on December 1, 2009.

He was born on September 5, 1917 in Oulu, WI to Aina (Rantala) and John Erkkila, the tenth of twelve children.

On October 24, 1941 in Wyandotte, MI, Walter married Violet Nelson of Maple, WI.

Walter spent forty-five years on the waterfront. As a young man, he sailed on several Great Lakes ships. During World War II he built frigate ships at a shipyard in Detroit and then the Butler Shipyards in Superior to support the war effort. He worked on the Great Northern Railway Iron Ore Docks in Allouez and O and M Grain Elevator in Superior. He retired from the Burlington Northern Taconite Facility in 1969.

Walter and Violet operated a dairy farm in the Town of Lakeside for twenty-three years.
He was a woodsman, trapper, hunter and fisherman. With lumber from the trees he cut in his woods, he built his barn and house. He enjoyed going to dances when old-time Finnish music was playing and card games like cribbage and smear played with family and friends. He was long-time Minnesota Twins fan, listening on the radio to nearly all their games. He valued freedom, independence and peacefulness. He longed for and achieved a peaceful place for his final days, his home in Lakeside.

Walter is survived by his daughter Ruth, St. Paul, MN; his son David (Dione), Ashland, WI; his grandson Dale (Nancy) Erkkila, Omaha, NE; his granddaughter Dana (Mark) Cook, Haslet, TX; four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Grace and Analisa Erkkila and Kaitlyn Martin.

He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-four years, his parents, seven brothers, Eino, John, Arvid, Waino, Ernest, Rudolph and Charles and four sisters, Tekla, Esther Paulsen, Ailie Pihlaja and Ellen Smith.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM and will continue until the 11:00 AM Funeral Service on Monday, December 7, 2009 in the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home. Pastor Patrick Ziems of Zion Lutheran Church will officiate.

Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery.

Pallbearers for the service will be David Erkkila, Dale Erkkila, John Johnson, Allan Olson, Wesley Johnson and Terry Rantala.

Should you like to send a condolence or sign the on-line guest book, please visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com.