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MARQUETTE, MI – John Oscar Kiltinen, age 84, of Marquette, passed away on Saturday, July 18, at Norlite Nursing Center in the loving care of his family and caregivers.
John was born in Marquette on June 8, 1942, to Chester and Eva (Wiljanen) Kiltinen. A lifelong scholar with a passion for learning, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Northern Michigan University in 1963 and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 1967. He devoted more than 40 years to teaching college-level mathematics, including 36 years as a professor at Northern Michigan University, where he inspired generations of students until his retirement in 2007.
In 1965, John married H. Pauline (Fenton) Kiltinen, the daughter of Erna and Lawrence Fenton, who was raised in Wisconsin. Together they built a life centered on family, education, music, and service. Their son, Eric, was born in Minnesota in 1971 and is now married to Jane Calvert.
Beyond the classroom, John’s greatest passion was bringing live music to the community. He was instrumental in commissioning new works by distinguished composers from both the United States and Finland. Among these were Rockland: The Opera by Finnish composer Jukka Linkola; Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Op. 36 by Finnish composer Jaakko Kuusisto; the viola concerto Plein Aire by American composer Griffin Candey, premiered by Marquette violist Debbie Carlson; and the cantata Main Paras Vife--Finglish for “My Best Wife”--by Finnish composer Atso Almila.
John’s love of mathematics, music, and his Finnish heritage often intersected in creative ways. He wrote a parody about a globe-trotting Hungarian mathematician by setting new lyrics to the Finnish song Maailman Matti (“World’s Matt”), and composer Peter Hamlin later created a set of variations based on the theme.
His dedication to education and the arts extended well beyond his professional career. John served on the boards of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He held leadership roles with the Marquette Choral Society, the Northern Michigan University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and the Marquette Community Concert Association.
Among his many honors, John was named a Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland, one of Finland’s highest civilian distinctions. The honor was presented by the Consul General of Finland in New York in recognition of his contributions to Finnish culture and international understanding.
John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pauline; his parents, Chester and Eva Kiltinen; his parents-in-law, Erna and Lawrence Fenton; his brother, James (Maria) Kiltinen; his brother-in-law, Jack Heimerdinger; his sister-in-law, Kathy (Doran) Fenton; and his foster cousin, Paul Williams.
He is survived by his son, Eric Kiltinen, and daughter-in-law, Jane Calvert; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Fenton; brothers-in-law, Larry Fenton and Gustav (Patricia) Fenton; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends whose lives were enriched by his kindness, intellect, generosity, and enduring love of music.
A service celebrating John’s life, officiated by Pastor Steve Solberg, will be held on Friday, August 14, at Messiah Lutheran Church. Visitation will take place from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow in Magnuson Hall at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
The Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com