Paul John Trasti
JACOBSVILLE — Paul John Trasti, 67, of Lake Linden, passed away unexpectedly the morning of August 30, 2020.
He was born March 16, 1953, in Hancock, to the late John and Verna (Kommes) Trasti. He is an alum of Jeffers High School, Class of 1971. After high school, he graduated from St. Joseph’s aide training program, and then obtained an associate degree in nursing from Michigan Tech University. His nursing career spanned more than 30 years and consisted of caring for patients at several U.P. hospitals including Houghton County Medical Care Facility, Dickinson County Hospital and Bell Memorial Hospital. He also worked as a correctional nurse at the Marquette Branch Prison until he retired in 2008.
Paul married Janet Kuusisto on January 21, 1972, in Hancock. They raised three children, Jeremy, Jennifer and Jon.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching sports, especially hockey and football. He was a foodie and enjoyed baking bread. After retirement, most of his time was spent at his residence along the Portage Canal in Jacobsville where he found solace in the peaceful tranquility the area had to offer.
In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; his sister, Mary Ann Junttonen; and several in-laws, Robert Dunstan, Earl Junttonen, Eva Kuusisto, and David Mihelac.
He is survived by his partner, Paula Theiler; three children and their spouses, Jeremy and Tiffany Trasti, Jennifer and Luke Zaremba, and Jon and Kelly Trasti; eight grandchildren, Noah and Hanna Zaremba, Keyan and Lauren Trasti, Michael, Jasmine, and Elijah Williams and Jeremiah Trasti; three sisters and several in-laws, Alice and Reino Taskila, Rita and Richard Lindgren, Lucille Mihelac, Carol Dunstan and her special friend, Burt Arola, James Kuusisto and his partner, JoAnn Pini; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, September 5, 2020, at Range Apostolic Lutheran Church in South Range, with Pastor Chuck Bylkas to officiate.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday in the church.
In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, masks and social distancing will be required.
Following the service, burial will take place in the Waasa Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Range Apostolic Lutheran Church in memory of Paul.
Arrangements are being handled by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.