Veikko Jokela

Veikko Johannes Jokela, 91, died unexpectedly on Sunday, November 17, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester as a result of a brain bleed. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, caring and dependable father, and stimulating friend. He was his own person and walked the talk. Veik was born to Finnish immigrant parents, Nikolai and Lempi Jokela, and grew up with his sister, Laina, on a subsistence farm in rural Sturgeon Township in northern MN. He learned to speak English in school and graduated as valedictorian of his class at Alango High School. He studied at Virginia Junior College before completing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and, later, a master's degree, both at the University of MN. He married the love of his life, Phyllis Fristedt, in 1944.They lived in various places, including Washington DC during WW II, where he served in the U.S. Navy as a Japanese translator. They settled in Plymouth, MN, where Veik worked as an engineer for Honeywell and had several patents in his name. In 1963 they bought the farm in Cannon Falls; he farmed well into his 80s. Veik was a man of moral integrity, deeply formed by his Finnish heritage and early years of Finn Hall community life on the Iron Range. He and Phyllis hosted many Finnish students as interns on the farm. He brought Sisu, a Finnish word meaning perseverance, to everything he did; saunas were an integral part of his life. He was a man of many interests, intellectually drawn to study of topics of social and political importance and moved to write letters to the editor for his local newspaper. He enjoyed woodworking and took seriously his responsibility to the dozens of hummingbirds that, for years, called his patio their home. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Phyllis; children, Bill Jokela and wife, Mary Jane Lipinski of Marshfield, WI, Linda Jokela of Cannon Falls, Becky Jokela and husband, Dave Paxson of Cannon Falls, and Cindy Jokela and husband, John Poling of Winona; 10 grandchildren Anja and Dana Jokela, Kara (Chandler) Yorkhall, Johanna (Jeremy) Manalis, Brennan Hall (Angelee Rehbein), Nikolai Paxson, Kelsey (Georgia) Paxson, Karlan, Les and Noah Poling; and 6 great-grandchildren, Lilia, Anika and Juliette Yorkhall, Kaisa and Aila Manalis, and Liana Bentzin-Hall. A memorial celebration of his life will be held on December 29 at the Lundberg Funeral Home in Cannon Falls with visitation at 1:30 and program at 2:30. Contributions in his memory may be made to: Cannon Falls Food Shelf, Cannon River Watershed Partnership, or American Heart Association.

Funeral Home: Lundberg Funeral Home 5839 Hwy 19 Blvd Cannon Falls, MN US 55009

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Previous Events

Visitation
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Service
Sunday, December 29, 2013

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