Obituary of Ronald Edward Koivisto

Ronald Edward Koivisto, 63 of Cromwell died Saturday, November 30, 2002 in St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth after a courageous battle with cancer. His loving family was by his side. Ron was born June 4, 1939 in Moose Lake to Uno and Viola (Heikkila) Koivisto. He was raised in Cromwell and attended Eagle Lake Elementary School and Cromwell High School. Ron served in the Air Force from 1956 until 1959. He married Judy Weimer on December 14, 1963 in Floodwood. Ron was self-employed as an over-the-road truck driver for 38 years traveling to 49 states. He most recently leased to Transport America. He owned a bait shop in Cromwell for seven years from 1986 to 1993. He was a member of the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years, Cromwell Sno-Gophers Snowmobile Club of which he was the founder and the current President. He was also a member of the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association and had been the Carlton County Trail Coordinator. Ron enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at St. Mary's Hospice for their loving and compassionate care not only for Ron but for each and every member of the family. Ron was preceded in death by his father, Uno Koivisto in 1977 and his granddaughter, Skye Rinta on August 4, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Judy of Cromwell; daughters, Christine Koivisto Rinta of Cromwell and Theresa (Jeff) Suhonen of Wright; his mother, Viola (Dauno) Lahti of Cromwell; brother, Kenneth (Susan) Koivisto of Cromwell; grandchildren, Dustin Rinta, Joseph Couture III, Derek, Samantha and Jennifer Suhonen, his brother-in-law, William Weimer of Cromwell. A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 7, 2002 in Bethany Lutheran Church, Cromwell. Inurnment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Cromwell. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Hospice.