Ronald Nikunen

Funeral service will be 1 pm Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Clyde Harvey officiating. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in the Gilbert Cemetery.  Ronald Norman Nikunen, 76, of Eveleth died Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at the New Journey Residence in Biwabik. Ron was born on September 28, 1942 to Hjalmer and Mayme (Lakso) Nikunen in Sparta. He attended school in Gilbert.  Following his schooling, Ronald went to work for Eveleth Mines where we worked for thirty-one years until his retirement in 1999.  He was united in marriage to Darlene Hietala on August 30, 1971 in Watertown, SD. Ron was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed mowing his lawn and cutting wood.  He also enjoyed camping with his family and friends, Buck and Debbie.  His hunting shack crew, comprised of his brother, Roger and his friends Floyd and Larry grew to two more generations.  One of Ron’s proudest moments was when his granddaughter, Kaity, shot her first deer.  Collecting and playing guitars was also a passion of Ron’s. Survivors include his wife of 47 years: Darlene; three children: Tom (Jen Pederson) Nikunen, Lori (Ryan) Johnson, and Shelley Nikunen; ten grandchildren: Kaityln, Trever (Jen), Kayla, T.J. (Roxanna Haakenson), Megan, Daelyn, Colten, Sofia, Ryanna, and Baby Ozzy; four great-grandchildren: Nicole, Mason, Joey, and Grace; two sisters: Marilyn Jones and Patricia Hedman; one brother, Richard Nikunen; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hjalmer and Mayme Nikunen; brothers: Raymond, Art, Roger and Ralph; sisters: Shirley Torma, Ruth Cobb, and Muriel Salo; and his father and mother in-law: Eli and Stella Hietala.