Edward Kleimola

He was born on Dec. 7, 1934, in Ironwood, son of the late Waino and Lempi (Erickson) Kleimola. He attended Roosevelt School and Luther L. Wright High School. During his years in school, he was a member of the Student Council, Agricultural Club, 4-H Club, Unicycle Club, R.O.T.C., Band, and served as an escort for one of the contestants in the Miss Gogebic County Potato Contest.

After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army 8th Infantry in Geisenheim, Germany. During his military service, he was a field communications crewman and earned a good conduct medal, expert medal (sub machine gun) and rifle marksman medal. Upon completing his service, he started dating Arlene Kinnunen, whom he married, and took his first job with Superior Bottle Gas Company in Ironwood.

After leaving Superior Bottle Gas, he became a butcher for the Buehler Meat Market in Ironwood. Edward continued to work as a butcher for the remainder of his career for numerous markets, earning the nickname “Fast Eddie.” He was always eager to provide the best service possible to his customers over the years and enjoyed mentoring others.

After the death of his first wife, he married Virginia Ketola. In his retirement, he enjoyed woodworking and making wooden toy trucks, cars, doll cribs, airplanes, and more. He loved to give them away and enjoyed selling some of them at local craft fairs. Edward was a member of the Chassell Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Besides his parents, Edward is preceded in death by his first wife, Arlene; brothers, William, Robert, Waino, Allan, and infant brother, Howard; and sisters, Barbara, Greta, and infant sister, Helena.

He is survived by his second wife, Virginia Kleimola; his daughter, Debra (Peter) Warnstrom; son, Jeffrey (Kimberley) Kleimola; grandchildren, Joseph Warnstrom, Emmie (Christopher) Bishop, Anna Warnstrom, Jacob (Alyssa) Kleimola, and Erica Kleimola; great-grandchildren, Victor Kleimola and Penny Bishop; his siblings, Francis (Barbara) Kleimola, Gladys Elsworth, Lempi (Richard) Poulin, Mrs. Waino (Betty) Kleimola, and Ms. Allan (Karen) Kleimola.

A graveside service for Edward will be held at 11 a.m. (CST) Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township.

Friends may call at the cemetery from 10 a.m. (CST) until the time of the service in the cemetery.

To view this obituary or to send condolences online to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Chassell Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.