Carl Kunnari

Carl Kunnari, 96, Two Harbors, died Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at Waterview Shores.

He was born July 6, 1924 at the family homestead in Toimi, to Finnish immigrant parents, Victor and Hilma (Mattinlassi) Kunnari. After graduating from Two Harbors High School, he served in the U. S. Army during World War II. Following discharge, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota - Agriculture Campus. He met his future wife Anne Nelson during that time, who was also an Army Veteran and a nurse anesthetist at Eitel Hospital. Carl and Anne married September 10, 1949 and raised their family in the southern Minnesota communities of Comfrey and Madelia, where he was employed as a livestock buyer for Hormel. Following retirement, he and Anne made their home in Toimi, where Carl enjoyed the woods, birds, and wildlife. For many years, every morning, he would walk a hot mug of coffee out to the school bus driver, as they hit the midway point on their long bus run.

Carl was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Bassett Community Church, and a dedicated participant in AA – where he was a sponsor to several and was thankful to reach 48 years of sobriety, one day at a time. For many years, he was the chairperson of the Toimi School Community Center Board, helping to restore the building, and tell the history of the 2-room school, where he attended 1st through 8th grades.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Anne in 2010; and brothers Arvo and Harold.

Carl is survived by sons, Karl of Brimson and John (Mary Lou) of Crystal, MN; daughter, Louise (George) Anderson of Two Harbors; grandchildren, Kimberly, Sara (Colwyn) Wiltshire, Michael, and Shawn (Samantha) Kunnari, Maren (Matthew) Webb, and Nils Anderson (Julia Luger); great-grandchildren, Allessandra, Elizabeth, Tyson, Olivia, Isaiah, Sophia, Lucas, Jax, Brooklyn, Nell, Josephine, and Mabel Anne; and great- great-grandchildren; as well as special friends Randy Brenna and Larry Heise.

Memorials preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bassett Community Church, Waterview Shores Activity Fund, or the Toimi School Community Center.

Private services will be held.  A public visitation will be held on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 12:30 PM until 2:30 PM at Cavallin Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Brimson Cemetery. A public service will be scheduled when circumstances allow for safer gathering.