Antero Aakkula Obituary

Antero (Andy) Aakkula, age 97, passed away Saturday, December 9th, 2006 at Sunrise Assisted Residence in Colorado Springs. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 13th, at First Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Cascade, Colorado Springs. (719-632-8836). A reception will follow at the church. Antero was a native of his beloved Finland. He was born August 8, 1909 in Kangasala, Finland and later attended the Finnish Military Academy. He became a career military officer for both Finland and later the United States. He achieved the rank of Major in the Finnish Army, and served bravely during many battles in WWII from 1939-1945. Following the war, Antero, along with his wife Aino and daughter Kirsti, were forced to flee the Soviets in Finland to the United States where they settled in 1948; Antero then entered the US Army and had another distinguished career, retiring in 1969 as a Colonel. Antero was an expert in mountain and cold weather warfare and was assigned at many military installations, including Fort Carson in the early 1950's, where he helped establish the military mountain rescue team at Camp Hale. He had two assignments in Alaska during the late 1950's, an assignment as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College, a tour in Germany and a final assignment in Vietnam during 1968-1969; His decorations include the Legion of Merit and a number of other U.S. and Finnish medals. Following retirement, he and his wife, Aino, resided in Colorado Springs for the remainder of their lives, where they had many close friends and neighbors. They were regarded as the Finnish "grandparents" to the many Finnish-American residents in Colorado Springs and kept the old country traditions alive in their home. Antero was honored late in his life for his heroic role in the Finnish - Russian wars of 1939-1945, and in 2005 was presented with Finland's Medal of Freedom, the highest award that country can make to a civilian. Antero was the consummate gentleman and host throughout his life. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and optimistic attitude toward life. In his declining years, he never asked for help and was always thankful for the friendship, compassion and assistance he received from his friends, family and care givers. He will be remembered for his great dignity, honor and "sisu" (Finnish courage/ determination). He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years Aino and his only daughter Kirsti Aakkula Israelson. The family would like to thank the staff of Sunrise Assistance Living Center and Odyssey Hospice for the care they provided to Antero. He is survived by his grandchildren and their families: Jon (wife, Jennifer) Israelson of Flower Mound, Texas; Mark (wife, Chris) Israelson of McKinney, Texas and Susan (husband, Charles) Lindberg of New Market, Maryland, along with his eight great-grandchildren, and his son-in-law, David Israelson of Keller, Texas. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.