Obituaries: Curtis William Lyytinen

With great sadness, Curtis Lyytinen, 66, of Cloquet passed away Nov. 22, 2020, at St. Luke's Hospice in Duluth with his loving wife by his side. After a long, painful battle with colon cancer he is no longer suffering, and is in the loving arms of his Savior Jesus Christ.

He was born on Aug. 20, 1954, in Duluth, the son of Carl and Helen (Maki) Lyytinen.

Curt was raised in Esko Township, where he spent most of his childhood exploring the outdoors. He loved nature and fishing the Midway River. His favorite part of the day was to get home from school, run into the house, and grab a warm piece of Finnish flatbread from the oven, made by his mom. He would slather it up with peanut butter, eat his bread, grab his fishing pole, and head up the river with his friends. His mother would have the frypan ready and waiting, knowing full well he would always bring home the "catch of the day."

Curt was a 1972 graduate of Esko High School. He went on to Duluth Vocational Technical Institute, where he earned a degree in welding. Curt kept his love for the outdoors throughout his life, spending many a weekend camping, fishing, or hunting with family and friends.

He met his soulmate, Yvonne Berglund, in May of 1981. They married two years later in Floodwood on June 4, 1983. He had found that special someone who shared his passion for the great outdoors as much as he did. Together they had one special place they both loved more than any other and often referred to it as "Heaven's Gate." It didn't get much better than watching a moose swim across the lake in front of you while sitting in a boat fishing. The couple had three children. He deeply loved his family, and they loved him. Curt was a man of few words. Being a good provider was his way of showing his love, always making sure his kids had opportunities. He also loved to cook and was always trying new recipes. His awesome turkey wild rice soup, venison stroganoff, and his fantastic coneys are just a few of his specialties that we will forever miss him making for us. Being a true Finlander, it was rare to see Curt without a cup of coffee in his hands, when he wasn't busy working. Curt had a strong work ethic, and he was a jack of all trades. He spent a lot of time over the years repairing, replacing, or building something. Curt always helped others when he could. He was a good mechanic and saved a lot of money by fixing the family cars himself. Curt was a very dedicated employee, working for Hammarlund Landscape and Transport Inc., and USG Interiors, where he worked 60 hours a week for 34 years until his illness forced him to retire. He was a member of Queen of Peace Church.

Curt was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Marlene Spieler.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Yvonne; son, Dustin; daughters, Savannah and Sierra Lyytinen; brothers, Roger (Julie) Lyytinen and Jerry (Wendy) Lyytinen; sister JoAnn Benson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, and resuming at 12 p.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service Tuesday, Dec. 1, all at Nelson Funeral Care. Masks and social distancing are required indoors.

Curtis will be laid to rest in New Calvary Cemetery in Cloquet. http://www.nelsonfuneralcare.net

Pine Knot News, Nov. 27, 2020