Harold “Butch” Koivuniemi

Butch was born March 6, 1947, a son of Harold E. and Clara Mae (Hoff) Koivuniemi, Sr., at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where his father was stationed in the US Army. Butch was raised in Sundell and attended the Eben High School, graduating in 1966. Following graduation, he was drafted into the US Army and, after basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was sent to Vietnam. Butch served his tour of duty in Vietnam from October 1967 to October 3, 1968, at which time he was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia from where he was honorably discharged. Butch then spent approximately two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he entered a program for tool and die making. Upon returning to Michigan, he became employed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the motor pool repairing vehicles until the closure of the base in 1995. His next employment was with Hawley Forest Products in Ishpeming working as a heavy equipment mechanic, retiring from that job after ten years. With his working years behind him, Butch enjoyed “junking” and working on old cars at his garage in Sundell and attending car shows in Iola, Wisconsin with some of his buddies. Butch was “old school” and never threw away anything because he never knew if he might need it later. Over the years, he made many trips to Wisconsin to haul scrap iron to be processed.

Butch is survived by four sisters, Sharon (Gary) Hall of Mesa, AZ, Kathleen (Lee) Haynes of Marquette, Darlene (Paul) Anderson of Cedar Springs, and Bonnie Koivuniemi of Mesa, AZ; along with many nieces and nephews.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Matthew.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on Saturday, February 24, beginning at 1:00 pm until the time of service at 2:00 pm. Pastor Lon Russell will officiate. Veterans Honors will be accorded following the service. A reception will follow in the funeral home reception room. Interment will be made in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Chatham, in the spring.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.