Reino Emil Alanen

Reino Emil Alanen, 90, passed away Monday, July 16th at the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI.  He was born to Emil & Rosa (Tienhaara) Alanen on May 3, 1928 on the farm near Bruce Crossing. 

Reino’s spent his early years on the farm.  Later he worked at the Brown Lee Sawmill in Toivola & laid sod for Snowden near Bruce Crossing before moving to Detroit where he worked on the assembly line at Packard Cars.  In September 1950’s he was inducted into the Army.  He served in Korea with the Artillery Division of the 2nd Infantry where he experienced front line combat against the Chinese troops.

After returning from Korea in July 1952, he enrolled at The Michigan School of Mining in Houghton now known as Michigan Technology University.  While at MTU he was inducted into Tau Beta Pi and Chi Epsilon Honorary Societies.  Reino graduated with honors in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and became registered as a Professional Engineer/Land Surveyor.  He accepted a position with U.S. Steel where he was Project/Plant Engineer at facilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.  At the time of his retirement in 1983 he was District Engineer of Limestone Operations in Rogers City, MI.

Reino was a member of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers & the Northeastern Michigan Engineering Society.  He was a Life member of Lion’s Club International and the VFW, most recently active with Post 9345 in Bruce Crossing. 

He loved to hunt & fish, enjoying trips to the Western states and Canada to bag Elk, deer, caribou and moose.  He also hunted pheasant in S. Dakota and Nebraska. 

He is survived by sister-in-law Evelyn (Elmer Aimo) Alanen & several nephews & nieces .  He was preceded in death by brothers Roy (Elna), Eino (Ellen) & Aimo.

In acknowledgement of his very generous donations, Reino was a member of the President’s Club at MTU and the President’s Council at Finlandia University.  He established endowed scholarship funds at both colleges and for graduates of the Ewen Trout Creek School.

In 2014 he wrote “Recollections” capturing the spirit of life on the farm, his school days and early memories of Bruce Crossing.  A copy is available at the McMillan Township Library.

At Reino’s request, there will be no funeral.

A “Remembrance for Reino”  will be held at a later date.

The Cane Funeral Home of Ontonagon is assisting the family with arrangements.

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