Tilden Twp, MI- George Emil Koskimaki sailed peacefully into eternity on February 6, 2016, at the home of his beloved grand daughter, Emily Kaare.

George was born in Ishpeming, Michigan on August 21, 1922. He spent his early years in Baraga County. A graduate of L'Anse High School, he furthered his education by receiving a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University and a master's degree from Wayne State University.

Halfway through his bachelor's program at Northern, George enlisted in the United States Army, joining the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles.
He was a paratrooper and served as the radioman to the Division commander, General Maxwell Taylor. Later in life, George wrote three books about his own and his comrades' experiences during WWII.

Upon his return from the war, George finished his university degree, married, became the father of his only daughter and moved his family to the Detroit area. . George was hired as a biology and eventually an ecology teacher, a basketball coach and an athletic director at Roseville High School. He continued to teach and coach there for more than thirty years. To the end of his days, he was in close communication with many of his former students.

In his spare time, George served in numerous capacities at his church, was a founder of the Finnish Center Association (FCA) and completed an enormous amount of research to be used in writing his books.

When he retired from teaching, George continued to be active in the FCA, spoke about his experiences in WWII at local high schools, wrote a column known as " K's Korner" in the 101st Screaming Eagle Newsletter, and played an active role in the 101st' monthly Lunch Bunch meetings. He led several tours in Europe related to the events described in his three books.

Throughout the years, George built a cottage and sauna in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and he and his family spent a good portion of every summer there. George loved fishing for brook trout and introduced his daughter and grandchildren to that sport. Making wood was his idea of fun. He was a virtuoso blueberry picker, dubbed as the "blueberry man" by Bishop Skrenes at a blueberry social.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Olga (Virta), his wife, Eva (Ohman), and by all four of his siblings—his infant sister, Viola, his two brothers, Onnie (Karen) and Oliver (Elizabeth), and his sister Mildred (O'Henry) Hilley. His only grandson, Matthew Attalai, also preceded him in death. Surviving George are his daughter, Christine Koskimaki Attalai and her husband, Andrew Attalai, his grand daughter Emily (Attalai) Kaare and her husband Jason, and his two great grandchildren, Jacob and Aria Kaare. He is survived as well by numerous cousins and nieces and nephews, and a host of friends, former students and military buddies.

Special thanks to the staff of Marquette County Medical Care Facility and UP Home Health and Hospice, who assisted Emily and the family to look after George during the final months of his life.

The funeral will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, MI on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm, with Rev. Dave Johnson officiating. Visitation will take place at the church an hour prior to the funeral service.

A dessert social will be held following the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's memory to Faith Lutheran Church 180 Co. Rd. PPO Ishpeming, MI 49849, the Finnish Center Association in Farmington. Michigan, or the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.

A funeral service will also be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, Farmington Hills, MI at 11:00 am on Saturday February 13, 2016. Interment will take place in the Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park.

Thayer Rock Funeral Home of Farmington, MI is also assisting the family.

George's obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .