Obituary for Inga Tonkin (Tamppari)
Crystal Falls - Inga Tamppari Tonkin of Crystal Falls, Michigan, born during the Spanish flu pandemic, passed away December 2, 2023, four months after her 104th birthday.
She was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on July 30, 1919, and married William Tonkin, who predeceased her in 2009 after 67 years of marriage.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, George and Fannie Tamppari; son, Howard; sisters, Irma Moody and Ellen Rajala; and brothers, George, Laurie and Ray Tamppari.
She is survived by her son, William Tonkin (Esther Holt); daughter, Frances (Edgar) Hesley; grandchildren, Robert Tonkin, Jennifer Arthur, Katie Hesley, Caroline Smith, and Amanda Walter; and great-grandchildren, Mira, Matthew, Melinda, Claire, Cameron, Caleb, Carson, Alaina, Gavan, and Grayson.
Inga was a prolific knitter in her younger years, making mittens, gloves, hats, and sweaters. She enjoyed traveling, cross country skiing (like a good Finn), and was an artist who painted Upper Michigan landscapes, many inspired by photographs taken by her husband, who was an accomplished photographer. Music was an important part of family life. Her father enjoyed playing Finnish folk tunes on his tenor sax for family who came to visit “Papa” and “Aiti” in Ishpeming. Inga and her brother, George, also played sax, and many family members in the following generations continued to play a number of musical instruments.
When someone asks how old you are, and you say you are 104 years old, that’s very impressive! But it makes a greater impact if you tell them the year you were born. Inga was born in 1919, the year women first won the right to vote, when Woodrow Wilson was President—and she saw 18 more Presidents after that, some that she probably wished she hadn’t! World War I had just formally ended with the Versailles Treaty. She saw the development of airplane travel, from bi-planes to supersonic jets. She lived through the Great Depression; saw the development of television and the Internet; and saw the development of space travel and Americans landing and walking on the moon when she was a mere 50 years old!
Until recently, her health was relatively good for her age, and she participated in many of the activities that the wonderful staff at the Iron County Medical Care Facility offered. When it was remarked how busy she was this past July, she said in true sisu fashion, “What else am I going to do, stare at the wall?” And during her son’s visit when she was age 99, she turned to him and said, “You know, I hate to say you’re my son—you look so old!”
It is anticipated that a gathering to celebrate her life will be held on a date to be determined in the summer of 2024 in the Crystal Falls area.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Inga’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com
The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls, Mich., to honor Inga’s legacy of life.
She was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on July 30, 1919, and married William Tonkin, who predeceased her in 2009 after 67 years of marriage.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, George and Fannie Tamppari; son, Howard; sisters, Irma Moody and Ellen Rajala; and brothers, George, Laurie and Ray Tamppari.
She is survived by her son, William Tonkin (Esther Holt); daughter, Frances (Edgar) Hesley; grandchildren, Robert Tonkin, Jennifer Arthur, Katie Hesley, Caroline Smith, and Amanda Walter; and great-grandchildren, Mira, Matthew, Melinda, Claire, Cameron, Caleb, Carson, Alaina, Gavan, and Grayson.
Inga was a prolific knitter in her younger years, making mittens, gloves, hats, and sweaters. She enjoyed traveling, cross country skiing (like a good Finn), and was an artist who painted Upper Michigan landscapes, many inspired by photographs taken by her husband, who was an accomplished photographer. Music was an important part of family life. Her father enjoyed playing Finnish folk tunes on his tenor sax for family who came to visit “Papa” and “Aiti” in Ishpeming. Inga and her brother, George, also played sax, and many family members in the following generations continued to play a number of musical instruments.
When someone asks how old you are, and you say you are 104 years old, that’s very impressive! But it makes a greater impact if you tell them the year you were born. Inga was born in 1919, the year women first won the right to vote, when Woodrow Wilson was President—and she saw 18 more Presidents after that, some that she probably wished she hadn’t! World War I had just formally ended with the Versailles Treaty. She saw the development of airplane travel, from bi-planes to supersonic jets. She lived through the Great Depression; saw the development of television and the Internet; and saw the development of space travel and Americans landing and walking on the moon when she was a mere 50 years old!
Until recently, her health was relatively good for her age, and she participated in many of the activities that the wonderful staff at the Iron County Medical Care Facility offered. When it was remarked how busy she was this past July, she said in true sisu fashion, “What else am I going to do, stare at the wall?” And during her son’s visit when she was age 99, she turned to him and said, “You know, I hate to say you’re my son—you look so old!”
It is anticipated that a gathering to celebrate her life will be held on a date to be determined in the summer of 2024 in the Crystal Falls area.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Inga’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com
The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls, Mich., to honor Inga’s legacy of life.