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Alan Lars Laukka

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Alan Lars Laukka, 72, passed away March 16, 2017 at his home in Colorado Springs.

Alan was born April 23, 1944 in Negaunee to Axel and Elsie (Mattson) Laukka and graduated from Negaunee High School with the Class of 1962. He was a veteran of the United States Navy (1966-69) and served as a Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam War. He attended Michigan Technological University (1962-63) and graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in 1973. Alan worked as a Metallurgical Technician for Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company from 1978-1982, but worked most of his professional life as a Medical Technologist (MT). As an MT, he worked at Miller-Dwan Hospital (Duluth, MN), Bell Memorial Hospital (Ishpeming, MI) and retired from Marquette General Hospital (Marquette, MI). He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars serving the VFW Post 4573 (Ishpeming, MI) and VFW Post 6461 (Fountain, CO) as a Post Service Officer.

Alan was married to Mary Ellen Laukka (Perala) for 32 years. Together they enjoyed spending time at their camp on the Dead River basin and the hunting camp on the Peshekee grade. He loved being in the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman throughout his life. While he lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota for short periods of time, he spent the majority of his life in Upper Michigan; and moved to Colorado after Mary Ellen passed away to be near his adult children.

Surviving are: children; Renee Reif (Fountain, CO) Charlene Laukka (Colorado Springs, CO), Carla Laukka (Longmont, CO), Shelly Korpi (Ishpeming, MI), Jon (Donna) Korpi (Ishpeming, MI); his sister J. Pauline Hill (Kingsford; MI), sister-in-law Mary Ann Laukka (Negaunee, MI); grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Ellen Laukka (June 2, 2012); brother Carl Laukka, sister Margaret Wartman; brothers-in-law Lowell Wartman and Robert Hill; and a nephew, Dr. Robert Hill Jr.

Colorado services will held at 1pm on March 26, 2017 at the VFW Post 6461, 753 South Santa Fe Ave, Fountain, CO 80817.

Services in Michigan will be arranged and shared at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be given to your local or national VFW.