Koskela

HOUGHTON — Al Koskela knew pretty much everyone in the Western Upper Peninsula or knew of them, and vice versa.

Koskela, who was serving as Houghton County Board chair at the time of his death Sunday, was remembered for his vast knowledge and experience, having served in education and government for decades.

Koskela died at the age of 81 Sunday morning at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital in Laurium.

Koskela was serving his fifth term on the Houghton County Board, most of which he had spent as board chair. Koskela represented District 2 on the county board, which covers Franklin, Osceola, Schoolcraft and Torch Lake.

County Administrator Elizabeth Bjorn had worked with Koskela at the county level since 2013, including as controller and accountant. No matter which position she held, she would reach out to him, she said. She praised his common-sense approach.

“He just had a real good sense of humor and he had a wealth of knowledge when it came to government business, and he would remember things from years and years ago,” she said. “Especially with our area here in the Copper Country, he knew about land, he knew about buildings, he knew about people, places and things.”

Vice Chair Tom Tikkanen had known Koskela by reputation before working with him on the board. He’d developed a close friendship with Koskela, who he called “one of the best community leaders that I’ve ever known,” driven by a deep appreciation and abiding love for the Copper Country.

“His heritage is that of the Finnish farmer immigrants,” he said. “They’re very closely tied to the land and the community.”

That helped shape Koskela and his accomplishments, Koskela said, which included service to the county and schools locally and statewide.

Prior to serving on the county board, Koskela had served on the Copper Country Intermediate School District Board from 2003 to 2012, and on the Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools Board before that. Koskela was also well-known throughout the western Upper Peninsula and even at the state level, Tikkanen said.

“When we would attend conferences in the Lansing area, I was not surprised but always impressed, when people from as far away as Wayne County would walk up to Al and shake his hand because they remembered his service at the state level,” Tikkanen said.

CCISD Board president Karen Johnson had served on various boards, including the CCISD, for 30 years. In addition to his own service, he encouraged and mentored several other local parents and community members who wanted to run for office, she said.

“He was a strong advocate for the U.P.,” she said. “He served on a lot of state school board committees, and sometimes the only U.P. member representing us up north.”

Nels Christopherson, treasurer for the CCISD board, had known Koskela since he was working for a contractor installing heating equipment during the remodeling of its current school building. He remembered Koskela as “a serious, dedicated public servant.”

“He was more than willing to spend his time and his efforts to help the public in general, whether it was a school board or subsequently on the county commission,” he said. “That was a big focus of his life, to be involved in those things and not expect any accolades, other than the satisfaction of helping out the community.”

Koskela was also an avid sportsman, Christopherson said. Every spring or summer, he loved to go trout fishing in Canada.

While CCISD Superintendent James Rautiola joined the district after Koskela’s tenure, he was a resource teacher at lake Linden during Koskela’s time on that board. When he would run into him around the area, Koskela always had a genuine interest in how things were going. Koskela’s legacy will be of putting students first, Rautiola said.

“His heart genuinely seemed to be with the kids, and doing what’s right for kids,” he said.

Koskela had not filed to run for another term on the county board. Three other Republican candidates are running in the August primary.

Though he was not seeking another term, Koskela was working until the end, Tikkanen said; as recently as Friday, Koskela helped mediate a union benefit package. Koskela often talked to him about how he wished more people in the county recognized the hard work and dedication of the county staff, Tikkanen said.

“It makes me kind of choke up when I think about it, that he was such a compassionate person but at the same time balanced that with his ability to make those hard decisions that are often required,” he said.

While Koskela could come off as gruff to those who didn’t know him, Tikkanen said, he was a warm-hearted person who always remembered someone’s name, and even their days in high school sports.

“His network was very far-flung,” Tikkanen said. “He’ll be sorely missed. We’re all still reeling from the loss of Albert. We knew he was going to retire after this term, but still it’s a devastating blow to lose him this quickly.”

The Houghton County board will meet to appoint an interim board member who will serve the rest of Koskela’s term. Bjorn said a notice will be posted seeking applications for the position. The notice will not be published until after Koskela’s funeral out of respect for the family, Bjorn said.