Plummer - Woodrow Eskeli, 85, died Wednesday, July 28, 1999 at his rural farm home near Plummer.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plummer with Reverend Clarence Johnson officiating. Grace Hammer was the organist. Casketbearers were Eugene Kauppila, Greg Kauppila, Robert Kauppila, Gordon Kauppila, James Baron, Kevin Malwitz, Dean Messina and Chris Messina. Burial was in the Finnish Cemetery near Plummer. The Petterson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Woodrow Reino Eskeli was born on June 1, 1914 in Emardville township of Red Lake county, the son of Nick and Ilmi (Martilla) Eskeli. He grew up and attended school there and was confirmed in the Finnish Lutheran faith.
On July 10, 1943 he was united in marriage to Laina Kauppila at Plummer. In 1946 the couple purchased the farm where Woodrow contined to work with his son, Bruce, until the time of his death. To supplement his farm income, he worked as an auto mechanic at East Side Service in Plummer for several years. He also worked at Detroiter Mobile Homes in Red Lake Falls. Woodrow was skilled as a welder and heavy equipment operator. Laina died on March 3, 1994.
Although Woodrow was hearing impaired from early childhood, he was able to overcome many of the difficulties of his handicap. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Plummer and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Thief River Falls. In 1982 he enjoyed a trip to Finland with his wife and daughters.
Woodrow is survived by two daughters, Evelyn Eskeli of Minneapolis and Glenice Eskeli of Plummer; two sons, Rodney (Jill) Eskeli of Madison, WI and Woodrow Bruce Eskeli of Plummer; one grandson; three brothers, Leonard Eskeli of New York Mills, Edward Eskeli of Plummer and Melvin (Rosemary) Eskeli of Plummer; two sisters, Wilma Huotari of Erskine and Helen Fremling of Red Lake Falls; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Laina; his parents; one sister, Aini; two brothers, Leo and Martin; one brother-in-law; one sister-in-law; and one great-grandson, Matthew. A00003B1999AG04