LEPPANEN. REINO NICKOLAI LEPPANEN

LEPPANEN. Reino Nickolai Leppanen , 74, of Stafford Springs, beloved husband of Gloria (del Pilar) Leppanen, died Monday (July 28, 1997), at home after an illness. He was born on April 13, 1923 in Bruce Crossing, MI,and continued to live there through his early years. He graduated from Ewen High School in Michigan and later attended City College of New York where he learned Russian as part of his military service. He was also fluent in Finnish having grown up speaking the language at home. During 1940-41, he was enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp Pori, Mass, MI and worked in bridge construction. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, qualified as a Radio Repairman and attained the rank of Technical Sergeant with responsibility for supervising a radio relay team. His unit of assignment was the 3186th Signal Service Battalion. He received several decorations which included the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, having served in both the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation. He was married to Gloria on Nov. l0, 1944. Shortly after his release from military service, he began a 50 year career in the marketing of heavy construction equipment, with his last employment being with the Tyler Equipment Corporation where he was a sales representative until his retirement in 1989. He loved to play golf, was an avid outdoorsman, and cared deeply for his wife and family. He was a third degree Knight in the Rev. Felix J. O’Neil Knights of Columbus Council No. 1395, and a communicant of Saint Edward Parish, Stafford Springs, where he resided for the past 36 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria; his son and daughter- in-law, Philip and Virginia Leppanen of Stafford Springs, his son, Mark Leppanen of California, his daughter and son-in-law, Audrey and Randall Phelps of Massachusetts, his daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Michael Stratechuk of New York; seven grandchildren, Daniel Phelps, Matthew Phelps, Kurt Stratechuk, Karl Stratechuk, Kristen Hillebrecht, Caroline Leppanen, Kaarin Phelps and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brother, Runo Leppanen of Michigan; his sisters, Toini Maata of Michigan, Norma Laine of Michigan, Melba Ketola of Arizona. He was predeceased by a brother, Melvin, and a sister, Doris, both of Michigan, and a daughter, Jody Lynn, of New Jersey. Calling hours will be held at the Introvigne Funeral Home, 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, 10-11 a.m. on Friday, August 1, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Edward Church in Stafford Springs at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Edward Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 800 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06002 or the Vernon Visiting Nurse Community Care, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066-5040.