Rudolph "Rudy" Wiitanen

Rudolph “Rudy” W. Wiitanen, 70, of Duluth, died Tuesday, January 03, 2017 at Solvay Hospice House, with his family by his side.

Rudy was born April 2, 1946 in Moose Lake to Peter and Alma Wiitanen.  He was a 1965 graduate from Barnum High School and he served in the US Army.  He married Susan Brooks on March 14, 1970.

Rudy was a heavy equipment operator and a licensed journeyman heavy equipment mechanic.  He worked for the Minnesota highway Dept. (now MDOT) as a heavy equipment mechanic; Mac truck; Duluth Airport Authority as a mechanic and operator; mechanic at the DMIR; was an over-the-road trucker and retired from Northland Construction as a belly dump truck driver.

Rudy was a member of Kenwood Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 360 in Kettle River, Retired Teamster’s and Twin Ports Genealogical Society.  He enjoyed to “tinker” and was a gunsmith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Alma.

Rudy is survived by his wife, Susan; daughters, Holly (Cal) Jorgensen and Heidi Wiitanen and Heidi’s son, Jonathan Dean Gransee; his sister, Mamie Seppanen; niece, Carol Ann Horabik and nephew, James Seppanen.

Visitation will be Friday from 5-7pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home.  Visitation will continue Saturday from 10am to the 11am services at Kenwood Lutheran Church, 2720 Myers Ave. Duluth, MN.  Military honors accorded by the Duluth Honor Guard to follow.  Memorials are preferred and may be directed to, The Duluth Honor Guard or Kenwood Lutheran Church.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth, MN, (218) 727-3555.