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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted March 30, 2004 Obituary © 2004 and courtesy Peterson's Funeral Services, Calumet. Photo © Keweenaw Now (file photo)

Obituary: Allouez Township's Bill Luokkanen

Bill was born in Laurium on March 20, 1946, son of the late William and Ellen (Keranen) Luokkanen and attended the local schools. He was united in marriage to Linda Piirala on November 5, 1966.

He was first a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle to his family. Bill will also be fondly remembered as a trusted friend, a hardworking and caring person who touched the lives of so many people over the course of his life. At the time of his death he was the Supervisor of Allouez Township, a position he held since his retirement from the military service in 2000. As Supervisor, he was responsible for many achievements and improvements for the people of the township he genuinely loved and was proud to serve.

Bill started as a Deputy Sheriff for Keweenaw County in 1969 and became Sheriff in 1973, serving until 1975. He continued to work as police officer in the Village of Laurium until he left to take a position with the US Army as a Supply Sergeant assigned to the 107th Engineers’ Battalion, based at the Calumet Armory. He was an active member of the Army National Guard from 1968 and retired from active military duty in 2000 after 32 years of service to his country. He will be remembered by the many men and women he served with as a diligent and committed soldier.

Bill was a founding member of the Allouez Township Volunteer Fire Department and remained an active member until his death. In his 25 years as a firefighter he held many positions, including Chief. He was also a medical first responder with the department. As a local historian he collected and shared memories of the area's mining and logging industries. He authored a history of Fulton location, the town where he grew up and lived most of his life. He was also the unofficial historian for the Calumet Armory, where you can view historical displays that he created. Bill was also a member of the American Legion Post 230 of Mohawk. Anyone who met or came in contact with Bill knew him as a kind hearted, generous man who always had time to listen to and help those in the community.

Surviving are his wife, Linda, 3 sons, William (Pattie) of Mohawk, John (Chris) of Adams, Minn., David of Calumet, a daughter, Kiirsten Luokkanen of Mohawk, 3 sisters, June (Bill) Lahti, Joyce (Donald) Pavolich, Jane (Carl) Bjorn, mother-in-law, Lorraine Piirala, brother-in-law, Allen (Marianne) Piirala, sister-in-law, Carol (James) Kumpula, 2 grandchildren, William and Ellie Loukkanen and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service for Mr. Luokkanen will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Mar. 31, in the Peterson Funeral Home, 57265 Mine Street in Calumet, with Paul Isaacson officiating. Spring burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Ahmeek. Friends may call from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Peterson Funeral Home. The American Legion Post 230 of Mohawk will conduct their service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Editor's Note: Keweenaw Now wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Bill Luokkanen, whom we knew as a progressive township supervisor, active in the land use planning effort for Keweenaw County, as well as a kind, generous person and community leader. Even during his courageous fight against cancer, Bill continued to perform his duties as Allouez Township Supervisor. We last had the chance to interview him concerning his efforts to secure funding for the township's possible purchase of Seneca Lake for conservation and public access. See "Trust Fund Board approves Allouez Township's potential Seneca Lake purchase."

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