Harry Kuitunen

Harry Earl Kuitunen, 82, of Biwabik, Minn., passed away at home November 15, 2025, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on August 28, 1943, to George and Martha (Maki) Kuitunen in Sandstone.

As a young boy, Harry attended Gilbert schools and worked on his family’s farm in Hutter, where he cultivated the skills that would serve him throughout his life as a jack-of-all-trades. He married Elizabeth Samson on June 20, 1964. They built a home in Hutter before moving to Biwabik in 1972.

As a young man Harry went to work for Longyear, where he spent 12 years as an equipment operator and drill foreman. Harry also worked for several years delivering liquid oxygen and nitrogen for Linde out of Babbitt, as well as driving trucks or operating equipment for others. He retired from Inland Steel Minorca Mine in 2004 with 25 years as a rotary drill operator.

At home, Harry was always fabricating or remodeling something if not rebuilding a car or truck. Harry and Liz spent the last 28 years traveling over 100,000 miles in their 1941 Ford street rod. He could often be found shooting the breeze with fellow gearheads at car shows or attending his grandchildren’s birthday parties, sports games, and dance recitals. He and Liz also spent several winters enjoying the warm weather in Arizona.

Harry is survived by his wife; children, Jill (Mike Palmer) and Dean (Bonnie); grandchildren, Nate (Kayla), Tyler (Breanna), Nicole (Ross), and Emma; great-grandchildren, Elijah and Isaac; and sister Delores (George) Dowding.

He is preceded in death by his parents and by siblings William, Edward, and Lillian.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 8, 2025 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Virginia with Pastor Liz Cheney officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.