He was born on October 14, 1937, in Chassell, a son of the late Henry and Erma (Lehto) Kaspala. John was a graduate of the Jeffers High School with the class of 1955.

After high school, Mr. Kaspala enlisted in the United States Navy. During his twenty years of service, he was stationed at various Commands across the United States including ones in Massachusetts, Virginia, Alaska and California. He was also stationed in the Philippines for a period of three years. During his Navel career he served aboard various ships as a Radioman. He retired in 1974 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After retiring from the Navy, he and his family returned to the UP where he worked for 25 years in the maintenance department at Suomi College.

On August 25, 1962, he was united in marriage to the former Lorna Grohman. In August 2015, they celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

John was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church of Houghton. He was also a member of the VFW Post #6507 of Chassell. In his spare time, John enjoyed woodworking projects, crossword puzzles, trapping, hunting, fishing, and was an avid reader.

Preceding him in death were his son, Henry; his parents; his sister, Karen Kaspala-Philbrick; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gustav and May Grohman; and his brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Bob and Marilyn Raisanen.

His is survived by his wife, Lorna, of the home; his son, John; daughter-in-law, Rachel, of Jacksonville, North Carolina; his daughter-in-law, Lori Kaspala-Veihl of Brighton, Michigan; his grandchildren, Courtney, John Kyle, Katelyn, Samantha, Elizabeth, Catherine, Jacob and Ella; his great-grandchildren, Aryonah, Cameron; his brother, Tom (Alice) Kaspala of Maine; his sisters, Sharon (Jim) Mayle of Florida, Sandra (Bill) Nash of Saline, Michigan; his in-laws, Dale Philbrick, Ed and Eunice Kern, Bill and Ruth Chopp, Rev. Martin and Mary Lopahs; and various nieces, nephews and cousins. John also leaves behind his special friend and companion, Buttons.

Funeral services for John will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, at Saints Peter & Paul Lutheran Church of Houghton. Reverend Aaron Gehrke will officiate. VFW Post #6507 of Chassell will provide military honors. Spring burial will be at the Chassell Cemetery.

Friends may call on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, from 9 a.m. until time of services at Saints Peter & Paul Lutheran Church of Houghton.

To view John’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit memorialchapel.net

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes have been assisting the family with the arrangements.