Ahti Alex Kantonen

Ahti Alex Kantonen, 82 of Cloquet, died peacefully Monday, May 4, 2009 in his home. He was born in 1926 in Stony Brook Township. Ahti was a 1944 graduate of Brookston High School. He married Aino Kainu on April 24, 1948 in Cloquet. During WWII, Ahti served in the Army from 1944 - 1947 and was stationed in Germany. He was employed at Northwest Paper/Potlatch from 1944 until he retired in 1987. Ahti was a member of Potlatch Quarter Century Club, Suomi Club, a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church since 1967, a life-member of Hebert-Kennedy VFW in Cloquet and served as Perch Lake Township Supervisor for several years. Ahti truly enjoyed the simple things in life such as fishing, hunting, berry picking, Saturday night saunas and playing cribbage, dominos, board games and hi lo wist. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John "Lauri" Kantonen; sister, Mayme Simula and his twin sister, Vi Johnson; a great granddaughter, Cheylie Clark and a son-in-law, Jerry LeBrasseur. Ahti is survived by his wife of 61 years, Aino of Cloquet; two daughters, Linda LeBrasseur of Cloquet and Julie (James) Juntti of Mahtowa; four sons, Gary (Mary) Kantonen, Kevin (Mavis) Kantonen and Richard Kantonen, all of Cloquet and Lee (Laurie) Kantonen of Barnum; 14 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren and 3 step great grandchildren. Funeral Services were held in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Cloquet on Thursday, May 7, 2009 . Interment was in Perch Lake Cemetery.