Ishpeming – Dean M. Honkala, age 49, of Ishpeming, died on Monday July 18, 2016 in a plane crash.

Dean was born June 20, 1967 in Ishpeming the son of Frank C. and Shirley A. (Koskela) Honkala. He was a graduate of the Westwood High School, Class of 1985. Dean had worked for Holli Forest Products for the past 26 years mainly as a Log Truck Driver. He was a member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Ishpeming Twp.

Survivors include his wife, whom he married on Aug. 6, 1988, Susan C. (Moyryla) Honkala of Ishpeming, 7 children – Frank (Valerie) Honkala of Dickinson, ND, Kaitlyn Honkala of Dickinson, ND, Jamie Honkala of Lake Linden, Hannah Honkala of Ishpeming, Robert Honkala of Dickinson, ND, Anna Honkala of Dickinson, ND and Reuben Honkala of Ishpeming, a grandson Colton Honkala of Dickinson, ND, his parents Frank and Shirley Honkala of Ishpeming, sister – Ann (Tim) Lequia of Clarksburg Loc., brothers – Calvin (Mary) Honkala of Ishpeming, Keith (Sonja) Honkala of Lantana, FL, Chris Honkala of Ishpeming, Neil (Stacy) Honkala of Hamilton, MT, and Scott (Sonja) Honkala of Rindge, NH, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Dean was preceded in death by a son Walter Honkala in 2002, father-in-law Uno Moyryla and mother-in-law Ellen Moyryla.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Friday, July 22, 2016 at the Apostolic Lutheran Church, 1700 US Hwy 41 W., Ishpeming Twp. from 2 until 5pm. Funeral services will follow at 5:00pm on Friday at the Apostolic Lutheran Church with Roger Kangas to officiate. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Dean's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.