Paul W. Kauppila, age 99, passed away at Pine Haven Christian Home in Sheboygan Falls, WI on Monday, November 26, 2018. He had previously been a Kohler resident for 20 years.
He was born Nov. 19, 1919 in Copper City, Michigan, which is in the Keweenaw Peninsula, and his roots came from Finnish ancestry. Paul attended schools in Copper City, MI and high school in Calumet, MI where he graduated in 1938. He worked for the CCC camp for about two years after high school. He served active duty in the Army Air Corp from 1942 – 1946 during WWII and then was in the Michigan Air National Guard Reserves for nearly 30 years. While in the Army Air Corp he was a pilot instructor and spent many hours in a North American T-6 Texan, an advanced trainer aircraft. He retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. After WWII he attended Michigan Tech University in Houghton, MI on the GI bill and became an electrical engineer. Soon after this he became a certified professional engineer (PE in Michigan). He worked at Commonwealth Assoc. from 1949-1970 and then at Consumers Power Co. from 1970-1984 and retired an executive electrical engineer. Paul was activated by the Air Force during the Korean War and was sent to Bryan, TX where was deployed to Greenland.
Over the years Paul enjoyed golfing, traveling, playing in a senior hockey league, church activities, and being a pioneer in nuclear power, helping to design the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant in Monroe, MI. He also enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include: daughter Paula (Jonathan) Laun of Kohler, WI, son Lt. Col. James (Sandi) Kauppila of Beavercreek, OH, and son Edmund Kauppila of Austin, TX; grandchildren: Dr. Sara (Lee) Cannon of Portland, OR, Angela (Howie) Jersild of Neenah, WI, Tim (Natalie) Laun of Ridgewood(Queens), N.Y., Christina (Craig) Fugate of Carmel, IN, Amanda (Joseph) Brinkmeier of Seattle, WA, Kathleen (Stephen) Christians of Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren: Greta Cannon, Henry Cannon, Ethan Parker, Collin Parker, Tara Laun, Anjali Laun, Dylan Fugate, Emily Fugate, Jenna Jersild and Carl Jersild; sisters: Phyllis Tarnowski of Calumet, MI, Carol Usitalo of Calumet, MI, brothers: Gordon Kauppila of Morrice, MI, Kenneth (Ardene) Kauppila of McHenry, IL; other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Waino and Anna Kauppila, first wife Bernyce Simms Kauppila, second wife Bertha Frusti Kauppila, brothers: Walter Kauppila, Teddy Kauppila, Melvin Kauppila and Donald Kauppila, sisters: Florence Paakola and Mildred Taube.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 3027 Wilgus Ave. in Sheboygan, with military honors to follow. The family will receive visitors at the church on Saturday from 9:00am-11:00am.
Paul will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Jackson, MI.
A memorial fund is being established in Paul’s name for Pine Haven Christian Homes, Aseracare Hospice and The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.
Ballhorn Chapels Funeral and Cremation Care Center is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit
www.ballhornchapels.com
to sign the online registry.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Prairie Crossing, Pine Haven Christian Home and Aseracare Hospice for their attentive care as well as The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer for their continued support.
