Martin Erick Tuomala

Martin Erick Tuomala, age 95, died on Friday, February 15, with his devoted daughter Martta, by his side.  Martta has been his caregiver for the past 6 years, after a heinous medical misdiagnosis. He passed peacefully in the house he himself built in 1951 for his wife.

He was born November 26, 1923 and was a lifelong Ashtabula resident.  He met his wife Lorraine Hautala at Camp Luther in 1944, and they were married October 16, 1948 at Bethlehem Finnish Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan.

He is survived by his four daughters; Linda Grey, Kathy Tuomala, Martta Tuomala and Donna Dunaway.  His five grandchildren; Martin Jourdan (Danielle), Erin and Laura Dunaway, Adam and Erica Grey.  His two great-granddaughters are Jocelyn and Julia Jourdan.  He was preceded in death by Lorraine (1927-1997); his parents Erick Franz Tuomala and Mary Warpula Tuomala; his three sisters Helmi Tuomala (1914), Edith Suomela (1917-1985), Ellen Mattinen (1919-1989) and his brother Donald Franz Tuomala (1925-1990). 

He graduated from Harbor High School in 1942, and he served in the US Army in WWII as an aerial phototopographer.  He played exhibition football in an Army league designed to entertain the European troops as they waited to return home at war’s end.  He played for the Engineer Atomites and they were the Seine Section Champs. He enjoyed his lifelong friendships with the coach and his teammates.  He loved golf.  He was a retired union carpenter. Again, he loved golf. 

Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 19 at 11:00 am at Bethany Lutheran Church, 933 Michigan Ave., Ashtabula with Pastor David Anderson officiating.  Burial will be at Edgewood Cemetery.

The Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory and staff are privileged to serve the Martin Tuomala family.  View obituary, express condolences or light a candle at fleming-billman.com. 

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