Wiljo Axel Walli

Wiljo Axel Walli, 86 of Rogers and Wright passed away on Friday, November 18, 2016 in Arbor Lake Assisted Living in Maple Grove. He was born March 19, 1930 in Wright to Nick and Impi (Karvonen) Tuomi. As a young boy he went to live with and was raised by Nels and Sarafiija Walli. Wiljo graduated from Cromwell High School in 1948. While in high school, he was a star basketball player. After high school Wiljo joined the Air Force, serving during the Korean Conflict, working as an aircraft mechanic. He was discharged in 1952 and on July 12th of that same year he married Joan Kauppila in Autumba. They made a trip to Oakland, California to visit Wiljo's sister and while there they also met with Orvis Nelson, originally from Tamarack, who owned Trans Ocean Airlines. Orvis immediately offered Wiljo a job as an aircraft mechanic. Wiljo and Joan moved to California where Wiljo worked as an aircraft mechanic for the next 31 years, starting at Trans Ocean Airlines then Trans International Airlines and finally retiring from Trans American Airlines in 1983. While working as an aircraft mechanic, Wiljo traveled the world over. He traveled with Fleetwood Mac as their maintenance man. After his retirement, the couple moved back to Minnesota. They spent six months in Rogers and six months at their cabin on Cole Lake in Wright. Wiljo was a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by five brothers, George, Arne, Urho, and Ben Tuomi, and Ed Walli; three sisters, Verna Belanger, Signa Himango and Ethel Comozzi; and a granddaughter, Erin Walli. Wiljo is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan; three sons, Gary (Diane) Walli of Hamel, Minn., Kevin (LeAnn) Walli, and Roger (Betsy) Walli both of Hibbing; two daughters, Jewel (Scott Hill) Walli of California and Linnea (Brycen) Blaine of Littleton, Mass.; 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, 2016 in the Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. Visitation will continue from 10 until the 11:00 a.m. funeral service Monday, November 21st in Eagle Lake Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church in Cromwell. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Lakeview Township. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com