Henry "Hank" W. Kauppi

Funeral service for Henry "Hank" W. Kauppi, 92, of Palo, will be 10:30am Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora with Rev. Brian Birk officiating. Visitation will begin at 9am. Inurnment with military honors will be at a later date in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora. Hank died Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Willow Wood Memory Care in Eveleth, MN. He was born Nov. 9, 1918 in Eveleth, MN to Gus and Hilda (Olson) Kauppi. Henry was a graduate of Eveleth High School and later enlisted with the US Marines during WWII. He married Helmi (Maki) Lahti in 1971. Henry worked in the electrical construction industry for the IBEW Union for over 30 years. He retired in 1980. Hank was a member of the Aurora American Legion Post 241 and its Last Mans Club and the Timothy Robinson VFW Post 8144 of Hoyt Lakes. He was a former member of the Aurora Moose Club and former Biwabik Township Supervisor. Hank enjoyed hunting, trapping, netting whitefish, smoking meats of all kinds and a good hot sauna. He also enjoyed cooking on the wood stove, socializing with friends and volunteering at the VFW kitchen and with the military color guard. Survivors include his sons: Ernest (Jean) Kauppi and Forrest (Janet) Kauppi of Lakeland; grandchildren: Timothy Kauppi of Minnetonka and Kimberly Sampson of Duluth; step-children: John Lahti, Janice Monsrud and Howard (Vicky) Lahti all of Lakeland, Susan (Bill Flahave) Lahti of Blaine and Marion (Mike) Hermens of Walnut Creek, CA; many step grandchildren, step great grandchildren and step great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife: Helmi; step son-in-law: Warren Monsrud; sisters: Alice and Ailie; brothers: Clifford and Robert.