Verner L Keskitalo

Memorial service for Verner Lavern Keskitalo, 94, of Embarrass, will be 11am Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Pike with Pastor John Salo officiating.  Friends may gather one hour prior to the service at the church.  Inurnment will be in the Embarrass Cemetery at a later date.  Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.

Verner died Friday, January 3, 2020 at Essentia Health in Virginia, Minnesota.

He was born December 26, 1925 in Ottertail, Minnesota to Evert and Selma (Hamari) Keskitalo.  He attended country school and later enlisted with the US Navy.  He served during WWII in the Pacific on the USS Massachusetts. 

In 1946 he married Ella Lamppa and the couple began raising a family in Calumet, Michigan where Verner farmed with his in-laws until moving to Sault Ste. Marie where he worked on the Mackinaw Bridge.  In 1957 the family moved to Embarrass and he worked for Erie Mining Company.  He retired from LTV Steel as a welder.  Following his first wife’s death, he married Lempi (Tumberg) Neuvonen. 

Verner was a member of Pike Apostolic Lutheran Church and the Steelworkers Union #4108.  He enjoyed farming, baking chocolate chip cookies, and enjoyed walking and riding his bike until this past fall.  He will also be remembered for braiding and making wool rugs, picking blueberries and being with nature.

Survivors include his children: Aleta (Richard) Roy of Embarrass, Craig (Gwen) Keskitalo of Embarrass and Gary (Shari) Keskitalo of Port St. John, Florida; grandchildren: Aaron, Chad, Travis, Sheila, Perry, Allison, Kyle, Kirsten and Adam; eight great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ella; second wife, Lempi and six siblings.