Toivo Katajamaki 95 passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital's Long Term Care Unit.

He was born on July 11, 1913 in Paavola, Michigan to Solomon and Eveliina Katajamaki.

Toivo grew up in Winona, Michigan and graduated from Winona H. S. in 1930.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and served with distinction and was honorably discharged October 13, 1945. Toivo served in the South Pacific and came home with a war-related disability for Malaria and Jungle-rot.

He was married to Inez Koski before leaving for his military duty and came home to live in Mass City with his wife and 2 year old daughter whom he had never met.

During his life Toivo was a logger, a farmer, a truck driver and jack of all trades. He completed his working career driving truck and plowing snow for Ontonagon County, working out of the Mass Garage. After many years of retirement on the farm in rural Mass City, he placed himself at Ontonagon Memorial Hospital Long Term Care where he lived until his death. In tribute his children remember him as a man of great Sisu.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Inez in 2002, his brother Elmer, two nephews and a niece.

He is survived by daughter Carole and son-in-law Lee Hansen of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Grandson Mark Hansen (wife Karen), Great-grandsons Kyle and Spencer all of Farmington Hills, Michigan and Grandson Paul Hansen of Seattle, Washington.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 28th 11 a.m. at Wainola Lutheran Church in Mass City, Pastor John West officiating. Friends may call at the church Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Spring burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland.

Friends of Toivo may view his obituary and leave condolences at canefuneralhome.com.