Tapio Kontuvirta, 85, a resident of Shuniah, Ontario, passed away unexpectedly. He was born and raised in Finland where he received his education. Tapio worked as a machine operator in the forest industry for 40 years before retiring.
In Kalevala folklore, the king of the forest is named Tapio. This Tapio Kontuvirta truly embodied that spirit by being a ruler of his own woodland realm. Much of his time was spent outdoors-building, gardening, gathering, and harvesting. He also had a knack for carpentry and woodwork. A bit of a jack-of-all-trades, he could fix or improve just about anything related to mechanics or construction.
He is survived by his wife Mailis Kontuvirta, daughter Eeva and son-in-law Jonathan Solomon, two brothers and two sisters in Finland, as well as close friends in Thunder Bay and Shuniah.
A celebration of life for family and friends will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in memory of Tapio to honor his love for the forest.
