Tolkkinen, Edwin Walter
age 86, of Cokato passed away on April 4, 2016 at his home. He was born August 16, 1929 to August and Ellen (Heikkila) Tolkkinen. Ed was born and raised in Minneapolis, in the area known as the “Near North Side” or “Finn Town.” He was baptized into the Lutheran faith on December 15, 1929 and confirmed on April 9, 1944 by Pastor Adolph North of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Ed was a current member of Mt. Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church in Delano, MN.
Ed graduated from North High School and attended the Minnesota School of Business until he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served as a high-speed radio operator in the Signal Corps, stationed in Sendai, Japan.
Survived by his loving wife of 54 2/3 years Sandra (Tulkki), children; Craig (Annette) of Dassel, MN, Connie (Dean) Jarvie of Jackson,WY, Carolyn (Lars) Impola of Delano, MN, Loren (Susan) of Menahga, MN, Christine (Richard) Pietila of Howell, MI, Brian (Katheryn) of Delano, MN, Michael of Montrose, MN, Joan (Christopher) Ramberg of Brighton, MI. 43 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Along with brothers, William (Mary) of Fulton, MI, and Paul (Anita) of Big Lake, MN.
Preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Dorothy (Bob) Koski and Kathryn (Lawrence) Stonelake. Ed will be missed by numerous friends and relatives.
Funeral service: 2 PM Saturday April 9, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church of Delano. Visitation: 4-8 PM Friday at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, and 1hr prior to service at church on Saturday. Interment at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com