CLARENCE A. HEINONEN's Obituary
CLARENCE A. HEINONEN, 87, of Baraga, MI. succumbed to cancer on August, 21,2009. He was born on February 21, 1922 to the late Otto and Maria (Tuomala) Heinonen at the family farm in the Sturgeon River Valley in the Pelkie region. The midwife, Mrs. O.C. Olsen, delivered him in the midst of a raging blizzard. As the youngest child, Clarence joined his brothers Otto Walfred, Adrian (Ed), and Raymond and sisters Martha (Martz) and Viola, all of whom have preceded him in death. He attended Pelkie school and Baraga High School and played basketball, hockey and baseball, wearing a hole in the side of the barn practicing his fast pitch. Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Army in World War ll, serving as a ski trooper in the 10th Mountain Division, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. He spent time in France, Germany, the Philippines and Japan before returning home to marry Dorothy Lundin, daughter of Otto and Nettle (Holm) Lundin, in 1946. They set up housekeeping in Baraga, where Clarence drove a school bus, worked for the Michigan Highway Department driving a snow plow and repairing guard rails and helped Joe LeTendresse build the prototype of his Cary-Lift, welding it together in the shop on Superior Ave. in Baraga. He also served as a lieutenant in the Michigan National Guard during the Korean conflict. During this time, daughters Sheila (Edwards) and Sharon (Egner)were born. The family moved to the Detroit suburbs in 1952 and a third daughter, Marsha Heinonen was born. While in Detroit, Clarence was employed as a tool and die maker, working for many years as a keller operator for his brother-in-law, P.W.(Bill) Salmen, later retiring from the General Motors Proving Grounds after Dorothy's death in 1982. He has two granddaughters: Elaine Marie, daughter of Sharon and Doug Egner; and Casey Leigh Bodenmiller, daughter of Marsha. Clarence is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. In 1987, Clarence returned to reside in Baraga where he was active in the American Legion Post 444, and was a life member of the V.F.W., involved in both L'Anse and Alston posts.
Visitation for Clarence took place Wednesday, August 26, 2009 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse. A military honor service was conducted at the Baraga Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of the American Legion Post 444.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests contributions to a memorial fund which will be established in his honor. Envelopes are available at the funeral chapel.
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