John Akkanen

IRON MOUNTAIN - John E. Akkanen, 78, of 620 Margaret St. in Iron Mountain, formerly of Raco, Mich., passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital following a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie on Feb.14, 1931, and was the son of the late John and Linda (Kokko) Akkanen. John worked as a laborer for more than 30 years and was a member of the Laborers Union of North America, Local 1329 for more than 40 years. He also worked driving truck, dredging, snowplowing, cutting pulp wood and as a handyman and caretaker. John was very talented as a handyman and spent many hours repairing and restoring the many treasures he found at auctions. John loved to travel and play any kind of card game. One of his favorite pasttimes was to play solitaire while he watched old game shows on TV. After his retirement, John and Joyce traveled through many of the states on their way to their winter home in Florida. John loved to walk the beaches in search of pretty shells and sand dollars. John is survived by his wife, Joyce; sons, John (Nan) Akkanen of Brimley and Steven (Chris) Akkanen of Sault Ste. Marie; daughter, Karin (Ed) Pingatore of Brimley; stepson, Dean (Evelyn) Fehrle of Jacksonville, N.C.; grandchildren, Jennifer (Kevin) Weir, Kimberly (Ben) Carrick, Michael Pingatore, Jinelle (Matt) McKenney; stepgrandchildren, Joshua Fehrle, Andrew (Lindsey) Fehrle, Erin Bourne and Katie Fehrle; great-grandchildren, Carson, Ella and Anna Weir, Vivian and Addison Carrick and David; his sister Ruth (Wimpy) Smith of Sault Ste. Marie, and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by a stepson, Darwin Fehrle; sisters, Gloria (James) Willette and Helen (Basil) Christie; a niece, Linda Willette and nephew, Richard Christie. Visitation will be Friday from 12 noon to 1 p.m. (Eastern time) at the C.S. Mulder Funeral Home in Sault Ste. Marie. Memorial services will follow at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in his memory. Condolences may be expressed to the family of John Akkanen online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.