Reino A. Poikonen, 78, of Crystal Falls, passed away Monday, May 23, 2011, at Marquette General Hospital, Marquette. He was born July 5, 1932, in Crystal Falls son of the late Lauri and Elsa (Pannanen) Poikonen. On March 1, 1953, in Quincy, Illinois he married Kathleen Lake. She survives. Reino was a retired school teacher with the Utica Community Schools System, Utica/Sterling Heights, Michigan. He was selected as the Michigan Teacher of the Year in 1968 by the Detroit News. A veteran of the Korean War Reino served in the U.S. Air Force. He loved to swim, golf and travel. He was a man of sisu and was extremely proud of his Finnish heritage. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Poikonen, Crystal Falls; one son, Allan (Tuula) Poikonen, Elizabethtown, Ky.; two grandchildren, Kristen, Stefan; other relatives and friends. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the United Lutheran Church, Crystal Falls. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the church. Rev. Michael Laakko will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Crystal Falls with military honors accorded by the East Side Veterans Council. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be directed to the United Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. You may sign the family guest book or leave a condolence to Reino's family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com The Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls, is serving the family.