Harold R. Usitalo
June 10, 2017Share using:
Hancock: Harold R. “Harky” Usitalo, 84, of Lakeview Manor in Hancock, passed away suddenly at his home on Saturday, June 10, 2017 of an apparent heart attack.
He was born on April 17, 1933 to Fred H. Harry, Sr. and Sophia Onkalo. After graduating from Houghton High School in 1952, he sailed on the Eugene W. Pargny of the Pittsburgh Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio. He was drafted off the ship into the U.S. Army and spent 18 months in the Korean War near the DMZ line. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in May of 1955.
On May 17, 1958 he married Judith I. Manninen of Painesdale. They recently celebrated their 59th anniversary.
Harold is survived by his wife and five children: David (Cindy) of Painesdaleand their children Christina LaBelle-Verran of Baltic, Amber Miller of Houghton, and David John of Painesdale; Daryl of Houghton and his children Christopher Yowell of St. Louis, MI, Karl of Marquette, and Daryl of Chassell; Jayne Waisanen of Lannon, WI and her son Alexander of Houghton; Jill Usitalo of Chassell and her son Jimmy of Chassell; and Jenifer Anderson of Hancock. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Chloe, Logan, Austin, Brendan, Carter, Daxton, and Kendra; his brother George Usitalo of Livonia, MI, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, infant daughter Tami, Infant son Timothy, sister Beatrice Perfetti, and brothers Jacob Harry, Fred Harry, and Kenneth Usitalo.
Harold was employed as a “Sandhog” below water during the Portage Lake Lift Bridge construction in 1958, Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock in Seattle, WA as a welder for four years, various local logging companies, Copper Range Painesdale Machine Shop, Nelson Brothers Plumbing of Royal Oak, and Lakeshore Inc. of Ontonagon. He welded on the sleeves of the Bishop Baraga Shrine, was an umpire for the Copper Country Twilight League for 22 years, was the Junior Vice Commander and Sr. Vice Commander with the South Range VFW Post 6165, and the treasurer and union steward for the Painesdale Machine Shop.
Harold enjoyed fishing, hunting, listening to the radio, playing pinochle, dancing polkas, demolition derbies, and talking with anyone and everyone he met, and loved his coffee and bakery.
The visitation will be at 11 A.M. on Friday, June 16, 2017 at the O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock followed by the funeral service at 12 noon. The Reverend Elmer Liimata will conduct the services. The burial will follow with full military honors at Lakeside Cemetery in Hancock at 1:00 P.M.
The O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.