Leo W. Torola

Leo was born on January 28, 1930 to Finnish-American immigrants and grew up in the Copper Country of Michigan in Laurium. He served in the Korean War as a courier at the Geoji Island POW camp, delivering mail between the island and Japan.

He married Esther Maki of Astoria, Oregon on January 16, 1954 and they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota shortly after. They raised their seven children in the Minneapolis area while he worked as a typesetter at The Sun News, Anderberg-Lund, the Star, Outdoor News, and eventually retired from Western National.

A self-proclaimed jack of all trades and master of none, Leo was an avid gardener, self-taught mechanic and carpenter. He was a gentle man who loved photography, music, traveling, swimming, and cross-country skiing. He had a quick wit and knack for one-liner jokes to make you laugh while enjoying coffee and nisu. He was a life-long member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. A proud member of the Typesetter's Union and a charter member of the YMCA.

He was surrounded by his loving family and friends until he passed away at North Memorial Hospital on February 15, 2020. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Esther, of 66 years, Esther; children, Denise (Steve) Johnson, Larry (Heidi) Torola, Diane Torola, John (Tracey) Torola, Steve (Mary) Torola, Barb (Tim) Korkko and Cathy (Steve) Tarnowski; 25 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary (Bill) Tolkkinen, Ellen Ylitalo, Lana Heinonen and Judy (Jack) Haataja; brothers, Bob (Lorraine) and Allan (Maria) Torola; sister-in-law, Ellen Torola; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Aili and Walter Torola; sister, Eva Torola; brothers, Peter and Paul Torola; brothers-in-law, Ed Heinonen and Chester Ylitalo.