ERKKI FELIKS IKONEN

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ERKKI FELIKS IKONEN With great sadness, we announce the passing of our father, grandfather (ukki) and husband after a courageous four year battle with myelodysplasia. Erkki passed away peacefully at the Deer Lodge Centre on June 14, 2003 with his family at his side. Family was first and foremost to Erkki and he leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Hilkka; son Johnny (Sharon), grandchildren, Shauna (Mark) and Carson; daughter Liisa (Spencer), grandchildren, Merritt of Winnipeg and from Los Angeles Raina (Ryan) and Maija (Chris) daughter Tuula (Guy) of Vancouver, grandchildren, Tyson and Dana; and numerous nieces and nephews in Finland and Sweden. Erkki was predeceased by his mother, father and sister. Erkki was born in Helsinki, Finland, on February 27, 1917. Entrepreneur, designer, inventor, metal machinist, carpenter, mechanic, master craftsman - Erkki was a man of numerous talents with an unassuming nature. Erkkis first business was designing and building aerial photography equipment in Helsinki. With family, he immigrated to Canada in 1953 settling first in Saskatoon, SK, before moving to Winnipeg. Here, in 1959, he began another business, General Gas Burners Co. on Princess St., manufacturing commercial gas conversion burners. Later he worked for Lukes Electric as a machinist and purchaser of lathes. While employed with Lukes, he also found the time to build saunas both commercial and residential, professional go-karts, as well as agricultural scientific equipment for Agriculture Canada and around the world. He designed automatic seeding machines for plant germination, stainless steel oat dehullers, micro presses for cytological preparations and barley malting machines. These inventions were published in the following journals: Crop Science 1977 and Plant Disease 1984. Sports were also of great interest to Erkki. He was a ski jumper, skier, long distance swimmer and first prize ballroom dancer. In Finland, Erkki built and raced speed boats. He also had a love of music and a keen sense of humour which remained with him even through sickness. With Hilkka, he enjoyed many trips to Finland, Florida and Mexico. Erkkis skillfully-crafted cottage (our cottage as he often reminded us) at Beaconia Beach provided many fun-filled holidays for all family members. A special thank you to Dr. Maxwell, Bonnie and Chris of the Oncology Unit at Victoria Hospital for their years of assistance, Unit 5A and 5E of the St. Boniface Hospital and South 2 of the Deer Lodge Centre for their compassionate care. A service celebrating Erkkis life will be held on Thursday, June 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave., Aubrey Street entrance. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make a donation to the Oncology Unit, Victoria Hospital. NEIL BARDAL INC 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 18, 2003