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BORN
1926
DIED
2017
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Martin Seppala Obituary
He was born January 14, 1926, son of the late Gus and Annie (Somero) Seppala.
Marty, as he was known to all those who knew and loved him, was a businessman, entrepreneur and pioneer of the Finnish communities in the Monadnock region, Lantana, Florida and Greer, South Carolina.
He founded and operated many construction related businesses, the largest of which was Seppala and Aho of New Ipswich. He also was a founder and owner of Norsa Construction, Minuteman Ready Mix, Monadnock Fabricators, Monadnock Roofing, Builder's Exchange, Consept Mechanical, Grace Electric, Vanguard Manufacturing, Seppala Homes, numerous subdivisions, condominium projects and other construction-related business endeavors.
While construction was his chosen vocation and consumed much of his time, Marty's first love was the Lord Jesus Christ and the profession of his faith in Him. He always "gave an answer of the reason of the hope that was in him" 1 Peter 3:15. He was a lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church and served as a lay preacher, Pastor and missionary. His service included prison ministry, local missions and foreign missions to Finland, Sweden, Norway, Russia (including Siberia) Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Guatemala. One of his mission trips included circumnavigation of the world and his final trip was to India when he was 87 years young.
Marty was optimistic, enthusiastic, charismatic and vibrant. He brightened any room he entered and inspired confidence and ambition in anyone who worked with or for him.
His impact has been and will continue to be felt in the construction industry in New England, Florida and South Carolina through the many individuals who he inspired to found and operate construction-related business ventures.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughters Sandra Kinnunen, Annie Krook, Deborah Stenersen, Wanda Aho, Heidi Townsend, Melinda Nyblom, Marci Holombo, and Mildred Niemela; sons Samuel Seppala, Jonathan Seppala, Joel Seppala, Nathan Seppala, Benjamin Seppala, Matthew Seppala, Amos Seppala, and Joshua Seppala; sisters Alvina Oberg, Elaine Seppala; a brother Arnold Seppala; stepdaughters, Naomi Tapio, Aly Seppala, Janie Somero, and Norma Reini; and stepsons, Rodney Sarkela, David Sarkela, Steven Sarkela, John Sarkela and Bruce Sarkela;
139 grandchildren; 282 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; and a host of Christian friends and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian Barbara (Frigard) Seppala and a son, Daniel Seppala.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 19, 2017 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Eastside Apostolic Lutheran Church. The funeral service will be Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Fellowship Greenville, 3161 S. Highway 14, Greenville, SC 29615. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetary, Greer, South Carolina.
Memorials may be made to Eastside Apostolic Lutheran Church Mission Fund 2200 Mays Bridge Road, Greer, SC 29651.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thomasmcafee.com Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Martin Seppala
Maj-Lis Fagerholm
April 20, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May God give you strength day by day.
Love & God's Peace
Maj-Lis Fagerholm with children and families
Finland
April 20, 2017
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May God give you strength day by day and bless all of you!
Love& God's Peace
Maj-Lis Fagerholm
With children and their families
April 20, 2017
As an addition to My personal experience My hole family hold special thoughts and memories of Marty and we are thankful for knowing the Seppala/Sarkela. we have had many plecious moment together with many of You. Condeleses to the intire family. Love & Gods peace. Håkan och Ann-christin family.
Howard Seyller
April 19, 2017
My condolences to the Seppala family , friends, and relatives. Marty sure accomplished a lot in his life and his legacy will live on. I enjoyed the few conversations I had with him.
April 19, 2017
Thoughts and prayers to Marty's children and family. I hold special thoughts and memories of knowing Marty, Barbara and most of the children when I stayed in the family from sept-79 to july -80 both in NH and Florida ( N country club drive) I felt so welcome as many others ( Freddy, David L ,..)
Mat the Love & peace be with you,
Hakan Snellman
Jennifer Aho
April 19, 2017
I grieve now the passing of my last living God Parent.
I had such an honor to get to know Martin Seppala he was always cheerful and could bring cheer to any room that he entered. I will miss him dearly.
I know though he always looked forward to one day going home. He is now finally safe in the arms of Jesus.
I ask God to help the family after having to deal with such a loss. No matter how old a parent gets. No child wants to ever lose a mother or father. I do know that pain first hand as I had lost my mother Rose On January 11th 1985. Then my Father Bernard T. Aho (Bernie) on July 17th 1998.
May God be with all of you and may god offer comfort to all of you that suffer such a loss.
I wish to also express I was proud to have worked for Martin at Seppala and Aho Construction in New Ipswich. as well as in Lantana, Florida. As well as for Seppala Homes Inc. In Greer South Carolina.
I will miss him dearly. No one can possibly replace him nor his never ending love for others.
Christina Gädda
April 18, 2017
We remember your warmth and love. It was a pleasure to have you and your wife as our guests in our home in Jakobstad, Finland. We are praying for comfort in your loss. Kurt and Britta Snellman's children and families
Staffan Snellman
April 18, 2017
Our condelences to Martys entire family.
God be whith you till we (you) meet again..
Staffan and Elisabet Snellman
Wanda (Olson) Laue
April 18, 2017
Thoughts and prayers to Marty's children and family. I hold special thoughts and memories of knowing Marty and Barbara when Steve and I lived and worked in New Hampshire. We were always welcome at their home as were many others. Marty (and Hjalmer) was great to work for when I was employed at S & A. God be with you all.
Richard & Holly Potter
April 18, 2017
I worked with Marty for several years at Seppala & Aho Construction. He was a "down to earth" individual and respected him very much. Our condolences to his family and friends.
GOD BLESS.
Dunedin, Fl
Ray Carroll
April 18, 2017
Marty will go down as one of the most amazing men in my life. I could say so many things about him, but what I remember most of him is sharing with me his faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am reminded of what Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6. For those who are in sorrow, I rejoice that he is with his Savior, Jesus Christ. I am praying for your comfort at this time
April 17, 2017
Our sympathy & prayers for all of Marty's family, May God be ever present as you grieve the passing of someone so dear to you.May the love & peace of God be with you. Armas & Pat Aho
Bruce & Connie Talo
April 17, 2017
Offering our sincere condolences to Marty's entire family! May God be your comfort and strength! ~ Bruce & Connie Talo
Ruth Somero
April 17, 2017
Good night...uncle Marty! So glad I spent time with you in Florida. Condolences to all those who loved him and miss him...God be with each of you!
April 17, 2017
MARTY WAS MY FAVORITE PASTOR OF ALL TIME. HIS SERMAN'S SPOKE OF HIS PASSION AND LOVE FOR GOD, FAMILY AND ALL MANKIND. ABOVE ALL THINGS MARTY WAS SO KIND. HE ALWAYS MADE ME FEEL ACCEPTED AND WELCOMED, JUST AS I AM. I TRULY THOUGHT HE WROTE EVERY SERMAN, I HEARD HIM PREACH, JUST FOR ME. THEY TOUCHED MY HEART, MY SOUL, MY LIFE. THAT AMAZING SMILE AND OUTSTRETCHED HAND OF HUMAN KINDNESS MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE, MY PERCEPTION AND BELIEF IN GOD AS SPOKEN THROUGH HIS LIFE'S TESTIMONY. MARTY AND BARBARA BOTH MADE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER IN MY TEENAGE YEARS, YOUR LOVING EXAMPLES OF GODS TRUE LOVE & KINDNESS HELPED ME BE A BETTER PERSON. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE MEMORIES AND SMILES BOTH OF YOU ETCHED IN MY HEART. PEACE AND LOVE TO YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. TONJA MILLS
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