Alec Jon Kuuttila

Alec Jon Kuuttila
08/05/2025
Alec Jon Kuuttila, 63, of Kaleva, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Munson Medical Center in Manistee.
He was born in Manistee on June 5, 1962, to James and Sandra (Bufka) Kuuttila. He was the middle child of five.
He was a 1980 graduate of Brethren High School and graduated with Honors with a two-year certificate in diesel and heavy equipment repair from West Shore College.
Alec was a hard worker and held many physically demanding jobs starting on the family farm at a very young age and later working at Howes Farms in Marilla. After acquiring his CDL, he had been a self-employed truck driver and worked for many years as a tree trimmer and truck driver for Asplundh Tree. He also spent nearly 26 years as a Truck Driver and Heavy Equipment Operator at the Manistee County Road Commission. For many years he held a part-time custodial job while working full-time at the Road Commission. Alec had planned on farming again upon retirement.
Working that much did not leave him a lot of time for the recreational hobbies he loved: classic cars and trucks, motorcycles, and the tractors and heavy equipment he collected. He could often be found at the wheel of his equipment while the rest of us did the manual labor. Believe us, there was plenty of manual labor to be done if Alec was anywhere nearby!
Not everyone knew what his real name was. His sister was proud to have accidentally given him the nickname Awk when they were young and she couldn't pronounce Alec. He became known to all, not just family, as Awk and it stuck with him all his life. In fact, Awk was the character of the Brethren High School's Creative Writing class newspaper in 1979.
Awk had a gruff exterior, but was a softie at heart. He would help anyone in need and made many friends in his lifetime.
Alec is survived by: his four siblings, Alan (Kim) Kuuttila of Nevada, Iowa, Alin Kuuttila of Kaleva, Andrew (Val Janowski) Kuuttila of Kalamazoo and Adam Kuuttila of Kalkaska; his stepson, Dustin Kuuttila of Spokane, Washington; seven grandchildren; his aunt Beth Adams of Manistee and his uncle Dale Bufka of Battle Creek; nephews, A.J., Alex, Cody and Kyle Kuuttila and Jacob Campbell; niece, Shelby Kuuttila; many cousins; and long-time dear friend, Lynda McDonald of Kaleva.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; grandparents; stepdaughter, Nina Howes; uncles, George Adams and Jon Kuuttila; and aunts, Mary Jo Bufka and Kathleen (Kuuttila) Brooks.
Funeral services will be conducted at 6:00 PM, on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva. Visitation will take place from 5:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home.
The Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva, is in charge of arrangements.
www.terwilligerfuneralhome.com