Karlo Juhani Keljo

KELJO The Rev Karlo Juhani Keljo, 88, went to be with the Lord on October 18, 2010. Born in Finland, Karlo was a true scholar who arrived in this country, entered high school in Queens, NY shortly thereafter and graduated valedictorian. He entered college at Cooper Union but then felt the call to the ministry. Having graduated from Suomi College and Theological Seminary, he was ordained into the Suomi Synod on June 12, 1946 and served a parish in Wisconsin. He soon continued his studies at Northern Illinois University, while he was a pastor at a local congregation, and earned a master's degree from Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary. With his doctoral exams at Princeton Theological Seminary completed, he taught at the Suomi seminary, the newly combined Lutheran seminary in Chicago and Hartwick College. Most of his career was spent serving as pastor to congregations in Brooklyn, NY, Detroit, MI, and Ishpeming, MI. After studying at the University of Helsinki post-retirement, he founded the Northern Great Lakes Lay School for Mission. Awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Finlandia University in 1996, Karlo moved with his wife, Eunice, to Columbus, OH in 1998. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Martta Keljo and his sister Kaarina Tuomi and brother-in-law Walter. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eunice (Isaac) Keljo; sons, Kurt (Susan), and David (Judy); and daughter, Karen Tracy (Gary Darke); grandsons, Jesse (Sara), Jonathan (Amy) and Michael Keljo, and Kenneth (Alison) Tracy; and granddaughters, Christina Tracy and Kirsten (Scott) Olson. Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. on Friday October 22 at Kensington Place, 1001 Parkview Blvd., Columbus. Pastor Robert Halsey will preside at a memorial service there at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 23, luncheon to follow. Donations may be made in his name to Hope Lutheran Church in Columbus, or to Finlandia University, Hancock, MI.