Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Toivo J. 'Tob' Sipponen

IRONWOOD, Mich. — Toivo J. “Tob” Sipponen, 98, of Sunset Road, Ironwood Township, died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood.

He was born Jan. 12, 1915, in the town of Kimball, Wis., son of the late Jacob and Maria (Makela) Sipponen, and attended Meadville School in Kimball. He worked for the Works Progress Administration, or WPA, during the Great Depression and was employed in the Penokee Mine during World War II. He then worked as an auto mechanic at Cloon Motors in Wakefield for 30 years, at LaBlonde’s Auto on Cloverland Drive in Ironwood for several years, and at C&L Auto in Ironwood for one year, retiring in 1978.

Toivo enjoyed hunting and fishing, dancing in his younger years and bowling in his senior years, and vegetable gardening.

On July 3, 1940, he married Elsie M. Jalonen in Kimball. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, Russell (Donna), Bessemer, and daughter, Sheila Konkel (Jay Schneider), Ocono Falls, Wis .; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Emil and Eugene; and four sisters, Saima Nelson, Sylvia Geier, Julianne Pelto and Laina Kangas.

Per Toivo’s wishes, cremation has taken place.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 1:30 p.m., at Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township, with the Rev. Kurt Kovanen officiating.

Luncheon will follow at Little Finland in Kimball.

Condolences may be given to Toivo’s family online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.

 
 
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