Jacob Arthur Hintsala, age 89, of 8193 County Road 478, Champion, Black River Location, died August 15, 2008 of a heart attack at Marquette General Hospital where he had been a patient for one day.

Jacob was born July 22, 1919, in Black River Location to William and Amanda (Valitalo) Hintsala. On September 16, 1939, he married Irene Prusi in Negaunee Township.

Jacob spoke Finnish as his first language and learned English in school. He attended the Black River and Republic Schools, graduating in 1937 from Republic High School. He then went to a junior college in Ironwood to study to be an electrician. Jacob also worked in the Blueberry Mine for a couple of years until he entered the Army in 1944. He served over-seas in the 251st Port Company in India during World War II. He received medals for sharp shooting with rifle and tank weapons. Following being honorably discharged from the Army in 1946, he worked in the Greenwood Mine and then in construction. Eventually he owned and operated the J. A. Hintsala Construction Company and built over forty homes in the area, including his own. Jacob was also a member of the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his 8 children: David (Alice) Hintsala of Escanaba, Lenore (Joseph) Mattila of Negaunee, Frederick (Susan) Hintsala of Circle Pines, MN, Arlen Hintsala of Black River; Bonnie (Jack) Hakkola of Escanaba, Kay Hintsala of Marquette, Brian (Julie) Hintsala of Negaunee and Ross Hintsala of Ishpeming.

He is survived also by 18 grandchildren: Larry (Lisa) Hintsala, Lea Hintsala, Jenny Koivisto; Brenda (Loren) Ollanketo, Teresa (Ty) Rosten, Alissa (Ross) Hogan, Karena (Dean) Grasso; Frederick (Julie) Hintsala, Michael Hintsala, Marsha (Jason) Olson, Janine (Jason) Ruuska; Seth, Jacob, Arianne and Alex Hakkola; Paul, Eric and Brianne Hintsala.

He is also survived by 23 great-grandchildren: Christopher; Lucy; twins Joseph & William, Cole; Deidra, twins Marek & Kiara; Mandi, Joey; Justina, Christie, Genevieve, Savannah; Nolan, Madelynn; Mallory, Connor, Anna; Chase, Claire, Kali; Hailea, and 1 great-great-grandchild Adrianna.

He is also survived by sisters-in-law Helvi, Hilda & Shirley Prusi, Martha DeMarais, and Bertha Lyyski, many nieces and nephews, relatives in Finland, and a host of brothers & sisters in faith.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Irene (05/30/2002); 3 children: Dennis (1941), Laverne (1949), and Kenneth (1953); 2 grandchildren: Richard (1963) and David (1968) Hintsala; his parents, William (1949) and Amanda (1968); by 16 siblings, brothers: Jonas, Erick, Leonard, Jarl, Lauri and Albert, and sisters: Alina Olgren, Lydia Hintsala, Dagmar Eskela, Selma Morris, Julia Prusi, Laina Koivula and infants Arvid, Vilhelm, Hilja and Elma and one daughter-in-law L. Anne Hintsala (2000).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m. Monday, August 18, 2008 at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, County Road 492, Negaunee, Michigan with Dan Hintsala officiating. Burial will be in the Humboldt Township Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 17, 2008 at the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church from 5:00-8:00p.m. and on Monday from 10:00a.m.until the time of service.

Pallbearers will be Jacob's grandsons