Charles Iiro Richard Rainesalo

Charles Iiro Richard Rainesalo, age 88, passed away Friday, August 14, 2015. He resided in Lawrence Park Township, Pa. He was born in Helsinki, Finland, October 16, 1926, son of the late Charles Illmarie and Marta Joutsano Rainesalo.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Nancy L. Hogan Rainesalo; his children: Richard L. Rainesalo and his wife, Kathy, Theodore C. Rainesalo and his wife, Daril, Martha A. Irwin, Thomas W. Rainesalo and his wife, Torey; his stepchildren: James Kaschak and his wife, Lisa, Melanie Azevedo, Lisa Reckett, Daniel Kaschak, Leslee Masolotte and her husband, Jim, and Wendy Kiel. Charles is also survived by his brother, Erkki Rainesalo and his wife, Anne; 12 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by two wives, Marjorie Edner Rainesalo and Louetta Mosch Mauz Rainesalo and two sisters, Irja Marjatta Rainesalo and Anita H. Stoddard.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, where he served as a church elder, a deacon, a trustee, and sang in the choir. Charles was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II. He graduated from Carnegie (Mellon) Institute. He retired from General Electric in 1986 where he worked as a metallurgist. After his retirement from G.E., Charles worked for Bartell Metallurgical Group, Inc. from 1987 to 1994. He then worked part-time as a private consultant. Charles was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also served as a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts. He served as president and was a longtime member of G.E.E.R., and was a member of the G.E. Quarter Century Club. He was a member of the American Society of Metals. Among many of Charles' hobbies, was stamp collecting and bowling.

Funeral services and burial in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery are private. The G. R. Bailey Funeral Home, 4396 Iroquois Avenue, Lawrence Park, is handling funeral arrangements.

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