Sulo Hakala

<p> Mr. Sulo Hakala, age 82 years, passed away peacefully in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre&nbsp;on Friday, July 20, 2012.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Sulo was born in Port Arthur on May 24, 1930 to Ensio and Aili Hakala , growing up in South Gillies.&nbsp; He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> He started his working career as a clerk with Great Lakes Paper Company and after working his way through different jobs in the accounting department&nbsp; he began working in purchasing, eventually retiring as the Purchasing Manager of C.P. Forest Products.&nbsp; Following his retirement he took an avid interest in woodworking, something he not only enjoyed but was very talented at as well.&nbsp; He built himself a shop in South Gillies that he considered his private getaway.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Sulo was a man who dedicated his time to various community organizations through serving on their boards or just through giving of his time.&nbsp;These included serving as&nbsp; a founding member of the Great Lakers&rsquo; Credit Union, being a key fundraiser for the United Way Campaign and Lakehead University and as a board member of Suomi Koti.&nbsp; He enjoyed spending time at the camp at Pike Lake with family and friends.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> His greatest joy came from time spent with family, especially his grandchildren, of whom Sulo was so proud.&nbsp; He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Eva, with whom he just celebrated 58 years of marriage, son Allan (Daiva Gaputis) and their children Vilija, Thomas, Karl and Monika Hakala, son Brian (Helen) and their children Will, Sarah and Matti Hakala, sister Helen (Mario) Taddeo, brother Harold Hakala as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives in Canada and Finland.&nbsp; He was predeceased by his parents.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Hilldale Lutheran Church with Rev. Jari Lahtinen presiding.&nbsp; The interment service will take place at Hymers Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation for friends will be held on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sargent &amp; Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers memorials to Hilldale Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Online condolences may be made at <a href="http://www.sargentandson.com" target="_blank">www.sargentandson.com</a>.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>