Terry Koivisto

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Terry Matthew James Koivisto " The KARVER" announce his passing on Thursday May 25 2017 with his family by his side.

Terry was born at Port Arthur General Hospital on April 7, 1947. He was a lifelong resident of Thunder Bay and enjoyed the life he lived on the beach. According to Terry, everyday was a Saturday. He was blessed with a talent and had a unique love for working with wood spending hours creating in his workshop, woodburning out in the sun and making special gifts for people. He was very proud of his talent and put his heart into everything he made. His creative mind put him on a journey to build a home for his family in 1975 on Pebbly Beach , a very special place for him that has been carried on from generation to generation. He built a unique home for his family to enjoy, a place for his girls to grow and for his grandchildren to play on the beach. Dad loved sitting on the deck and watching his grandchildren digging in the sand, exploring the property and playing in the lake. He loved teaching them about the birds, their different sounds and shared family stories with them about family history around the property. 

Terry had a strong love for nature. He had a connection with nature that was important to him. He spent many winters on his x-country skiis exploring familiar trails or creating new ones in the bush. He competed in races and was proud to have his daughters join him in the Sibley Ski Tour. Dad could always be found in his workshop with the woodstove on waxing his skiis for another adventure out on the lake or wherever he would end up for the day. In his later years dad also found a new love for the Florida sand and sun. He spent his last few winters in Florida, meeting new friends and following the car races with his special friend, Bevan. Dad looked forward to every adventure in Florida. 

Terry honoured his father by following in his dad's footprints, becoming a great horseshoe pitcher, competing in many tournaments, starting the Lakehead Leaners Horseshoe Club and hosted an annual horseshoe tournament in honour of his father,the Weikko Koivisto Horseshoe Tnmt. He was also proud to say that he claimed the title of World Class Champion in Kitchener Ont. In 1998 he was inducted in the Horshoe Hall of Fame in Welsely Ont. 

Dad was happiest when he was at home on Pebbly "big time" as he would say. He loved the sound of the water and the sun shining on him as he sat and watched the on-goings along the beach. He was often found roaming the beach catching up with neighbours and buddies along the way. His latest creation was a sheltered dome he built on the deck that he was proud to call " the dome of stupidity" where he would spend time having conversations with family, friends or people that would pop by to say hello. Dad was always willing to sit down and have a Robin's double double with a good conversation that usually ended with a bout of humour or a joke. Dad was witty and funny. He had a passion for the arts and his favourite tunes he would listen to. He was simple and he was proud of that. He often quoted one of his favourites " keep it simple" because he believed that life should be lived in the moment. He enjoyed entertaining those who appreciated his quick witted , opinionated and realistic sense of humour. He liked to be known as a creative individual and a free spirit. He lived his life with his own set of "beach rules". 

Dad loved his girls, Marla and Terra deeply and was proud of them. Dad reminded us in every conversation with a " Love Ya". The love he had for his 4 grandchildren was also un-describable. He was proud of each of them and had a very special bond with each. Papa taught his grandkids about nature, respect for nature, family values, to believe in yourself and never be a quitter. He cherished his adventures he had with his grandkids exploring the beach, the trails, the camp road and all around the home. Dad was one of a kind. He loved his family. He will be held with love in the hearts of his family , mother Elsie Koivisto, daughter Marla ( Jeff ) daughter Terra ( Rob ) his grandchildren Carver, Matthew, Leah and Brady, sister Sandra Stewart , nephews Rob and Greg Stewart and their families. He will also be missed by his special lady, Bevan. Terry was pre-deceased by his father Weikko Koivisto in 1985, his grandparents and his aunts and uncles. 

Visitation for Terry will be held at the Sargent and Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street, Tuesday May 30 from 6-8 pm. 
A celebration of life for Terry will be held at his home on Pebbly Beach according to his wishes on Sunday June 11 2017 at 2pm. According to dad, please come as he was: casual and simple, bring a chair, your stories and memories. But most of all come and celebrate our dad with love and peacefulness at this sacred time. We will miss him and carry him in our hearts. Cremation has taken place and an internment of dad's ashes will be at a later date at a private service with his family. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.

"A time to live, a time to die, a time to laugh and a time to cry. Miss me, but let me go. When I come to the end of my road and the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom filled room. Why cry from a soul set free. Miss me a little but not long with your head held low, remember the love we shared as you miss me, but let me go" - T.K