Emil H. Laine, Sr.

Emil H. Laine, Sr., 91, Kettle River, died on Monday, July 27, 2015 in Augustana Mercy Health Care Center, Moose Lake. He was born on July 27, 1924 at home in Split Rock Township. Emil attended Lincoln School in Split Rock Twp. and later Kettle River School. He worked at home and at various area farms before entering the Army in March of 1944 serving during WWII in England, France, Italy, and Germany. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received during action in Germany. After his Honorable Discharge from the service, Emil married Lillie Sylvia Palola on July 6, 1946 in Moose Lake. They lived for a time in California before coming back to Minnesota. Emil worked at the ore docks in Two Harbors loading ships. After moving back to the Kettle River area, he worked at the Kettle River Municipal Liquor Store before accepting a position of Feed Store Manager at the Kettle River Coop. In 1960, he became the rural mail carrier for the Kettle River Post Office where he worked until his retirement in 1980. He was a resident at Augustana Mercy Care Center for the last five years.

Emil was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Lillie in 2011; his parents: John and Lydia (Salmi) Laine; his twin brother, Eino whom died shortly after birth; brother: Edwin; and a sister: Lillian.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children: Emil, Jr. (Linda) Laine of Kettle River; Nancy (Ken) Johnson of Kettle River; Betty (Chip Paul) Piippo of Grand Rapids; Grandchildren: Kenny (Chris) Johnson and Cory Johnson both of Moose Lake; Jeffrey (Diana) Laine of Moose Lake; Jennifer (Kurt) Schatz of Kettle River; Kate Laine of Kettle River; and Jeremy (Jenni) Laine of Barnum; 12 Great Grandchildren; 2 Sisters: Ailie Merrill of Cloquet and Helen Mattila of South Range, WI; 2 Brothers: Reino (Alice) Laine of Two Harbors and Roy (Peg) Laine of East Bethel; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be from 10 am until the 11 am funeral on Thursday, July 30, 2015 in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake. Rev. Karen Linnè will officiate. Casket Bearers will be Jeff Laine, Jeremy Laine, Kenny Johnson, Cory Johnson, Kurt Schatz, and Jacob Matuseski. Honorary Bearer was Jennifer Schatz. Burial with Full Military Honors was in West Branch Cemetery, Kalevala Twp.

Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.