Raymond Matthew Hautamaki, age 88, of 200 W. City Park Drive, Munising, died on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 6:12 p.m. at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. He was born on February 22, 1918 in Eben to the late Nikolai and Maria (Hautalaakso) Hautamaki. Ray entered into the U.S. Army on September 10, 1940. He served as a Sergeant with the 1st Battalion 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment. Ray was also a skiing and mountain climbing instructor. He participated in battles and campaigns at Northern Apennines, Po Valley, and the Aleutian Islands. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, 87th Mountain Infantry Badge, one overseas service bar, Asiatic Pacific Theater, European African Middle Eastern Theater, and American Defense Service Medals. Raymond was discharged on September 29, 1945. He went to work in the woods and worked for different logging companies in the area, and retired at the age of sixty-five. On October 3, 1970, Ray married Alice Mary (nee) Shamberger. He was a member of the Calvary Free Lutheran Church and the V.F.W., Ikkala Brothers Post. Ray enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping.
He is survived by his wife of over thirty-five years Alice Hautamaki of Munising; son Francis Hautamaki of California; three grandsons Eric (Justina), Aaron (Rachael), and Trevor (Julie) Hautamaki; six great-grandchildren Eva, Ian, Eli, Isaac, Gabriel, and Caleb; three sisters Florence (Howard) Maki of Eben, Vivian Riddle of Florida, and Irene (Art) Swajanen of Eben; foster sisters Helen Woimanen and Salmi Cord; and numerous nieces and nephews. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Nikolai and Maria, brothers Viljo, Arvo, Arnie, Eino, Leo, Oswald, and Albert Hautamaki, sister Lillian Hautamaki, and step-daughter Sharon Marcin.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Pastor Tom Schierkolk will conduct Rays funeral service at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Eben Junction on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. It will be at the cemetery where members of the Chatham V.F.W. Ikkala Brothers Post and Alger County American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
