Marvin Torkkola

Marvin L. Torkkola, of Maple Grove, was born January 7, 1936 in Menahga, MN. He passed away peacefully from cancer on April 27, 2019 in hospice care.

Preceded in death by: brother Douglas, parents Shirley (Olson) and Arthur Torkkola, brother-in-law Ruben Kyro.

Survived by: wife Doris, son Brian (Jill Stanton), granddaughter Sylvia; sisters Sharon (Harry) Marciniak and Glennis Hagan; brothers Jerry (Eunice) and Stan (Kathy) Torkkola; sisters-in-law Jeanette (Harry) Eklund and Pat (Ruben) Kyro; brother-in-law Jim (Jeanette) Kyro; 20 nieces and nephews.

Marv grew up in the Menahga area, with a short stint on the Iron Range, before returning and graduating from Menahga High School in 1954, where he quarterbacked their football team.

Marv proudly served in the US Army from 1956-58, stationed at a Nike Missile site in Nyack, New York that protected NYC and an anti-aircraft site on Okinawa, Japan. A couple of his favorite memories from this time include attending a NY Giants game at the Polo Grounds during baseball's heyday as well as the time his brother surprised him with an unannounced visit while his spy plane landed for maintenance and refueling on Okinawa - oh, by the way, I'm at your airfield now. One memory he didn't cherish was surviving a typhoon on a troop ship during his tour. Understandably, he never liked boats.

In 1960, he met Doris Kyro at a University of Minnesota football game in Madison, Wisconsin, and he and his brother drove Doris and two of her friends back to Minneapolis afterwards. They married in 1961 and welcomed son Brian in 1966. The Torkkolas lived at their home on 32nd Avenue in Plymouth for over 20 years before retiring to Maple Grove in the late nineties.

Marv worked as an accountant for various businesses before landing and spending 19 years at Hennepin County. He was a devoted member of his Christian faith, always kept in touch with his extended family and was extremely proud of his Finnish and Norwegian heritage.

Marv and Doris enjoyed a running an Amway side-business in the seventies and he remained interested in nutritional supplements ever since.

Pastimes included visiting with friends, watching his son's various athletic games, agonizing over Minnesota sports, shopping for cars, seeking a good piece of pie, and time with his family. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones.

Visitation: Tuesday, May 7 th from 7:00-9:00pm (and an hour before the service)
Funeral service: Wednesday, May 8 th at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated.