GWINN - Paul H. Hinsa, 86, of 260 S. Johnson Lake Drive, Gwinn, died Sunday evening June 29, 2009, at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.

Mr. Hinsa was born on March 16, 1923, in Negaunee to the late Herman August and Senja (Hautamaki) Hinsa.

At the age of 18, Paul went to work for the Holmes Mine underground and at the age of 20, he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving during World War II with the 103rd Infantry in Germany.

After returning from the war, Paul found employment in Chicago with the Bell and Howell Company. Upon returning to this area, he was employed in an auto body shop in Ishpeming, at the former Tracy Mine and finally retired in 1984 from the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base as a Federal Civil Servant.

Paul was a life member of both the Gwinn VFW Post and the DAV. In his free time he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, the former Helen R. Willig whom he married on Dec. 30, 1948, in the parsonage of Grace Lutheran Church in Gwinn; two children, Susan (Peter) Storti of Gwinn, and Daniel (Joanie) Hinsa of Munising; three grandchildren, Paula Sue (Chad) Sherman, Emily Lynn Hinsa and Nicholas Thomas Hinsa; also one great-grandson, Gavan Blake Sherman.

Friends may call at Grace Lutheran Church in Gwinn on Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. in the church with the Rev. Stephen Gauger officiating. Burial will take place in the Negaunee Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church in Mr. Hinsa's memory.

His obituary can also be viewed at www.canalefuneral.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The Canale-Gwinn Funeral Home is assisting the family.