1926
Alex
2013
Alex E. Alto
January 14, 1926 — January 20, 2013
Eben Junction
Alex E. Alto, age 87, of Eben Junction, died on Sunday morning, January 20, 2013 at Marquette General Hospital following a brief illness. He was born at the family farm in Eben Junction on January 14, 1926 to Hjalmer and Amelia (Salmi) Alto. Alex graduated from Eben High School in 1944 and then entered into the U.S. Army on December 29, 1944. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and earned the WWII Victory Medal, Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal - Japan. Alex returned home on July 31, 1946 and on August 17, 1946, he married his sweetheart, Bertha M. Lintula. They farmed the family dairy farm for fourteen years before Alex went to work at Kimberly Clark in 1957 as an apprentice millwright. In 1960, he became a millwright and in 1967, he was promoted to Maintenance Foreman. Alex retired from the Munising mill on July 31, 1984 after completing over twenty-seven years of service. He was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., and Moose Lodge. He and Bertha enjoyed traveling together and spent twenty-nine years wintering in Arizona. Alex enjoyed spending time at Cooks Lake, fishing, hunting, bowling, golfing, playing solitaire, and playing bean bag. He had a wonderful vegetable garden and did beautiful woodwork.
Alex is survived by his wife of over sixty-six years - Bertha of Eben Junction; two sons and daughters-in-law - Keith and Dianne Alto of Newberry and Kenneth and Jackie Alto of Owosso, MI; seven grandchildren - Susan Alto, Dan (Beth) Alto, Allan Bjorklund, Daniel (Kendra) Bjorkland, Susan (Dan) Bamber, Amanda Alto, and Josh Alto; four great-grandchildren with another one on the way; sister - Katherine Salmela of Marquette; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hjalmer and Amelia, brothers Toivo, Victor, and Charles Alto, sisters Lempi Hillberg, Hilja Robinson, Meimi Rockwood, and Ethel Niemi.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Alex's funeral service at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in the spring where the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, and V.F.W. Honor Guards will conduct military honors.
Alex E. Alto, age 87, of Eben Junction, died on Sunday morning, January 20, 2013 at Marquette General Hospital following a brief illness. He was born at the family farm in Eben Junction on January 14, 1926 to Hjalmer and Amelia (Salmi) Alto. Alex graduated from Eben High School in 1944 and then entered into the U.S. Army on December 29, 1944. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and earned the WWII Victory Medal, Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal - Japan. Alex returned home on July 31, 1946 and on August 17, 1946, he married his sweetheart, Bertha M. Lintula. They farmed the family dairy farm for fourteen years before Alex went to work at Kimberly Clark in 1957 as an apprentice millwright. In 1960, he became a millwright and in 1967, he was promoted to Maintenance Foreman. Alex retired from the Munising mill on July 31, 1984 after completing over twenty-seven years of service. He was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., and Moose Lodge. He and Bertha enjoyed traveling together and spent twenty-nine years wintering in Arizona. Alex enjoyed spending time at Cooks Lake, fishing, hunting, bowling, golfing, playing solitaire, and playing bean bag. He had a wonderful vegetable garden and did beautiful woodwork.
Alex is survived by his wife of over sixty-six years - Bertha of Eben Junction; two sons and daughters-in-law - Keith and Dianne Alto of Newberry and Kenneth and Jackie Alto of Owosso, MI; seven grandchildren - Susan Alto, Dan (Beth) Alto, Allan Bjorklund, Daniel (Kendra) Bjorkland, Susan (Dan) Bamber, Amanda Alto, and Josh Alto; four great-grandchildren with another one on the way; sister - Katherine Salmela of Marquette; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Hjalmer and Amelia, brothers Toivo, Victor, and Charles Alto, sisters Lempi Hillberg, Hilja Robinson, Meimi Rockwood, and Ethel Niemi.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Alex's funeral service at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in the spring where the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, and V.F.W. Honor Guards will conduct military honors.
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