Archie R. Hakkola

Archie R. Hakkola, age 63, of Eben Junction, died late Thursday evening, July 13, 2023 at his home under the loving care of his wife and Lake Superior Hospice.  He was born in Marquette on August 26, 1959, the youngest of Arvo and Virginia (Bonner) Hakkola’s four children.  Archie was raised on Ferguson Road in Eben Junction and graduated from Eben High School in 1977.  He was one of the first high school classes that were able to study at the Jacobetti Skills Center at NMU during his sophomore and junior years.  Archie became a certified mechanic right after high school.  He was self employed and owned and operated Archie’s Auto Body throughout his life.  There was one year that he spent in Wyoming where he worked in the oil fields.  He returned to Eben and stayed put.  Archie didn’t like to leave Alger County unless he was snowmobile racing with Charlie Hawley.  Charlie was the racer and Archie was the mechanic.   He married Fran (Charlebois) Hawley on December 18, 1992.   Archie enjoyed cutting firewood, sponsoring Archie’s Auto Body team and playing in the Eben men’s basketball league, and taking his daily trips to the Snack Bar.  Archie was family at the Snack Bar where he helped cook BBQ chicken on Saturdays and jumped in to help whenever needed.  He was a lifelong member of the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church.   Archie was a huge University of Michigan fan and usually wore something Maize and Blue.  Archie was a good man and a good friend.  He always did the right thing just because it was the right thing to do.   It is hard to sum up into words the kind of man he was – if you know, you know….and you were blessed.

He is survived by his loving wife of over thirty-years – Frannie Hakkola; her three sons that he loved as his own – Mike (Victoria) Hawley, Brian (Tracy) Hawley, and Charlie (Victoria) Hawley; grandchildren – Dylan, Michalyn, Griffin, Addison, Even, Sylvia, and Jordan; brothers – Terry (Leslie) Hakkola and Jack (Bonnie) Hakkola; sister Sandy Rezendes; several nieces, nepehws, and cousins; and his Snack Bar family – Heather and Sabrina and their families and employees.  Archie was preceded in death by his parents Arvo and Virginia.

Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Tuesday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.  Archie’s funeral service will be held at the Finnish Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church in Eben Junction on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with Dale Kemp officiating.  Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham.