Antti Johannes Kojo

KOJO: Antti Johannes Kojo, age 87 years, a resident of Thunder Bay, passed away peacefully in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on the morning of Wednesday, August 7, 2013. While family was gathered around his bedside, there was a word of prophesy through a song in Jewish melody, 'My child is coming into glory. I will heal my child. Be at rest. Be at rest. Be at rest'. He was born In Pyhajarvi (Karjala), Finland on May 18, 1926. Antti served in the Finnish army from 1941 to 1945. He married his first and only love, Eila, in 1951 and they immigrated to Canada ten years later. After living in Portage LaPrarie for a year, he moved with the family to Thunder Bay where he worked for the City Of Thunder Bay for 28 years. Antti was hard working, a man of his word with a lot of integrity. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening and harvesting wood for the winter. He also loved spending time reading and studying his Bible. Family was very important to him. His unconditional love for his wife, Eila, was always obvious. His love for his children was evident through the small gestures and comments he made. Each child had a mannerism or characteristic that he honoured and would love to tell others about. He was proud of his grandchildren and was always eager to share their successes and achievements. Often when thinking of his family, he would shake his head in wonder, how his love for Eila had created this amazing extended family. He was willing to take risks, whether it be moving the family, trips to unknown places, bringing home stray folks or building homes. He was always so confident that all would work out regardless of how bleak things looked. His home was open to everyone and visitors were always coming and going. His welcoming manner allowed foster children to be taken in and treated as his own. Everyone enjoyed his animated story telling, causing all to laugh till tears fell. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Eila, by his children, Ingrid (Juha) Viitanen, Maarit (Arto) Ropponen, Mai-Riitta (Arto) Uitto, Rainer (Tuula) Kojo, his grandchildren, Liisa, Vanessa (Mark),Niina (Dustin), Saara, Dana (Collin), Jessica, Jasmine, Elissa and Jasmiina, his great grandchildren, Amiina, Danika, Ava and Nia. Antti is survived by his sisters Annikki, Airi, Raija, Meeri and Anja and numerous family members in Finland. He was predeceased by his father Matti, mother Helena, brothers Heikki, Lauri and Valteri. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Saalem Church, 21 Walkover Street, presided by Pastor Hannu Polkki. Interment in Lappe Cemetery will follow the reception. Visitation for friends will begin one hour prior to the service, at 12:00 Noon. As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Antti's memory to Saalem Church Missions Fund would be appreciated. On-line condolences may be offered at www.harbourviewfuneral.ca"