1949
Walter
2014
Walter "Wally" Jurinen
December 23, 1949 — November 15, 2014
Munising
Walter Matthew Jurinen, age 64, of Munising, died on Saturday morning, November 15, 2014 at Marquette General Hospital the result of a heart attack he had on Friday evening. Wally was born on December 23, 1949 in Munising to the late Walter and Clara (Pinter) Jurinen. He graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1969. Wally entered into the U.S. Army in September of 1969 and served in Vietnam in 1970 with the 101st Airborne Division. He was wounded in action on July 21, 1970. Wally was interviewed and quoted in the book "Ripcord Screaming Eagles Under Siege" about his service with the 101st. He then served with the 82nd Airborne from September of 1970 to September of 1971. His military awards include the Combat Infantry Badge, Airborne Wings, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross, National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Wally was honorably discharged in September of 1976. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for over thirty-seven years and six months of service. Wally retired as Head of Recreation of Grand Island. He loved his job and treated the island as his own. He was instrumental in the trail and campground construction and maintenance. He also worked as Smoke Jumper and helped set up fire camps out West. On July 4, 1975, Wally had married Leona "Toni" (Goralski) Lopez and together raised their family. Wally was proud of earning his Captain's license and enjoyed a lot of his time on the Lake. He worked on the East Channel Lighthouse project and spent a year working as the Harbor Master. He was a past member of the Lions Club, Snowmobile Club, Dance Club ( he and Toni could really Jitterbug), and a charter member of the VVA Chapter 237. Wally enjoyed hunting and fishing, skiing, ski jumping and he had participated in Olympic time trials for skiing before Vietnam. He had a heart of gold and had a gift of engaging people and making people feel comfortable. Wally could make friends anywhere.
He is survived by his loving wife of over thirty-nine years - Toni Jurinen of Munising; children - Rick (Mary) Lopez of Munising, Ruth (Ralph) Cuevas of Moreno Valley, CA, Kevin Lopez of Christmas, MI, and Amanda Jurinen of Half Moon Bay, CA; daughter-in-law - Chris Lopez of Traverse City; grandchildren - Nicole, Cassandra, Rochelle, Meagan Rose, Erika, Nicholas, Alexander, Justin, Danielle, and Dylan; great-grandchildren - Lila, Ariana, Paige, Jakoby, and Roman; sisters - Marie (John) Bridgam of Hillsborough, CA, Veronica (Rodger) DeVore of Bend, OR, Janice (Bob) Weiss of Brookfield, WI, and Sue Ann (Daryl) Curley of Redwood City, CA; brother and sisters-in-law - Steve (Suzanne) Goralski of Wyandotte, MI and Ilona Goralski of Warren, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wally was preceded in death by his parents and his brother John Jurinen.
Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors at 6:00 p.m. Following the service, there will be a potluck style dinner and time of fellowship at the Corktown Bar. In lieu of flowers, donations in Wally's memory are requested to be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 237, P.O. Box 237, Munising, Michigan 49862
Graveside services and military honors will be conducted at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
Walter Matthew Jurinen, age 64, of Munising, died on Saturday morning, November 15, 2014 at Marquette General Hospital the result of a heart attack he had on Friday evening. Wally was born on December 23, 1949 in Munising to the late Walter and Clara (Pinter) Jurinen. He graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1969. Wally entered into the U.S. Army in September of 1969 and served in Vietnam in 1970 with the 101st Airborne Division. He was wounded in action on July 21, 1970. Wally was interviewed and quoted in the book "Ripcord Screaming Eagles Under Siege" about his service with the 101st. He then served with the 82nd Airborne from September of 1970 to September of 1971. His military awards include the Combat Infantry Badge, Airborne Wings, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross, National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Wally was honorably discharged in September of 1976. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for over thirty-seven years and six months of service. Wally retired as Head of Recreation of Grand Island. He loved his job and treated the island as his own. He was instrumental in the trail and campground construction and maintenance. He also worked as Smoke Jumper and helped set up fire camps out West. On July 4, 1975, Wally had married Leona "Toni" (Goralski) Lopez and together raised their family. Wally was proud of earning his Captain's license and enjoyed a lot of his time on the Lake. He worked on the East Channel Lighthouse project and spent a year working as the Harbor Master. He was a past member of the Lions Club, Snowmobile Club, Dance Club ( he and Toni could really Jitterbug), and a charter member of the VVA Chapter 237. Wally enjoyed hunting and fishing, skiing, ski jumping and he had participated in Olympic time trials for skiing before Vietnam. He had a heart of gold and had a gift of engaging people and making people feel comfortable. Wally could make friends anywhere.
He is survived by his loving wife of over thirty-nine years - Toni Jurinen of Munising; children - Rick (Mary) Lopez of Munising, Ruth (Ralph) Cuevas of Moreno Valley, CA, Kevin Lopez of Christmas, MI, and Amanda Jurinen of Half Moon Bay, CA; daughter-in-law - Chris Lopez of Traverse City; grandchildren - Nicole, Cassandra, Rochelle, Meagan Rose, Erika, Nicholas, Alexander, Justin, Danielle, and Dylan; great-grandchildren - Lila, Ariana, Paige, Jakoby, and Roman; sisters - Marie (John) Bridgam of Hillsborough, CA, Veronica (Rodger) DeVore of Bend, OR, Janice (Bob) Weiss of Brookfield, WI, and Sue Ann (Daryl) Curley of Redwood City, CA; brother and sisters-in-law - Steve (Suzanne) Goralski of Wyandotte, MI and Ilona Goralski of Warren, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wally was preceded in death by his parents and his brother John Jurinen.
Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors at 6:00 p.m. Following the service, there will be a potluck style dinner and time of fellowship at the Corktown Bar. In lieu of flowers, donations in Wally's memory are requested to be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 237, P.O. Box 237, Munising, Michigan 49862
Graveside services and military honors will be conducted at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
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