Lauri Anttila

Celebration of life service for Lauri Henry Anttila, 89, of Palo will be 11 am Monday, December 11, 2017 at the Loon Lake Community Center in Palo with Reverend Jerry Kosanovich officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Rauha Cemetery in Palo. Military honors accorded by the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Lauri died Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Essentia Health-Northern Pines in Aurora. He was born on March 4, 1928 to Anton and Ida (Wilson) Anttila in Palo. Lauri grew up in Palo and attended Aurora High School. Following school, Lauri enlisted in the US Army where he had served overseas as the chauffeur for General Mark Clark in Italy. Following his honorable discharge, Lauri worked in as a carpenter building several local county schools as well as many homes as Hoyt Lakes was being constructed. Lauri was employed as a carpenter in addition to being the second person hired at the Eveleth Taconite Forbes Plant. He retired in 1990 after twenty five years of service. He was a member of the Aurora American Legion and the Hoyt Lakes VFW. Lauri was instrumental in the starting of Pony League Basketball for Palo-Markham in 1966. He was also an avid bowler having bowled on several leagues, and a member of the A-HL Hoop Club. Lauri was an avid outdoorsman having enjoyed deer hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed spending time in his workshop building cabinets, railings, and other household furniture. He will be remembered as having a wonderful sense of humor and his joke telling. Lauri was a people person. He put many miles on his “Rebel Ranger” making his daily “Lauri Loops” visiting friends and family. Lauri took the greatest pleasure in being a grandpa and great-grandpa. His grandchildren enjoyed the Saturday night saunas at Papa Lauri’s. Survivors include his children: Laura (Steve) Hakala of Markham, Curt (Rosie) Anttila of Aurora, Lorna Anttila, Craig “Antti” Anttila and Clyde “Matti” (Leanne) Anttila all of Palo; five grandchildren: Kevin (Laura Lynn) Hakala, Amy (Trent) Issendorf, Kyle (Bryanna) Anttila, Janelle (Luke) Greschner and Lindsay (Matt) Tschida; twelve great-grandchildren: Stevie & Siiri Hakala, Tyler & Kiley Issendorf, Fiona, Crosby, and Ford Anttila, Cruise & Hawkins Greschner, and Charley, Riia, and Foster Tschida; a sister-in-law: Joyce Johnson of Makinen; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, June in February 2010; three brothers: Toivo, Arvo, and Anton Anttila; three sisters: Esther Mattila, Mary Latola, and Ellen Maki; and his parents.