George Manninen

Chassell George Henry Manninen, 91, died Sept. 30, 2020, at PortagePointe in Hancock where he had been a resident since 2018. George was born March 26, 1929, in Tapiola, Mich., the seventh of eight children of Ilmari and Flora (Kangas) Manninen. He grew up on the family farm on Otter Lake and graduated in 1947 from Doelle High School in Tapiola. George worked at Ford Motor Company in Detroit before entering active service in the U.S. Army (Military Police) in 1951 and serving in the Korean War. Following his military service, he attended Ferris State University and worked in construction in Chicago and on several building projects on the campus of Northwestern University. Returning to Tapiola in the late 1950s, he worked at the White Pine Copper Mine and then had a 30-year career with Northern Propane Gas Company, now Ferrellgas, in Houghton. On Oct. 29, 1955, he married Ruth Laine in Hancock and they enjoyed more than 60 happy years together. George and Ruth owned and operated Manninen’s Cabins on Otter Lake for more than 50 years and they were well loved by the many families who visited the resort. Their daughter Christine reopened the cabins in 2019 and is carrying on the family tradition. George was a member of VFW Post 6507 and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chassell and enjoyed golfing, fishing, working at the cabins, and spending time with his family and cousins in the area. George is survived by his daughters Dr. Cynthia (Dr. Don) Kring of Durango, Colo., and Christine Manninen of Chelsea, Mich.; grandson Donald (Erin) Kring and great granddaughter Evelyn of Ada, Mich.; granddaughter Dr. Molly Kring (Josh Juedes) of Madison, Wis.; granddaughter Emily (Christopher) Obrist and great grandson Adrian of St. Gallen, Switzerland; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. George was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and siblings: Ruth, Robert, Norman, Leah, Agnes, David, and James. A graveside service in Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton for George will be held 1:00 pm Staurday October 17, 2020, with Pastor Soren Schmidt officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by the members of the Chassell VFW. All attending the service are asked to following COVID-19 guidelines and wear a mask and following proper social distancing guidelines.. Please visit the Memorial Chapel website at memorialchapel.net where condolences to the family may also be sent and a recording of the graveside service will be available to view. Donations in George’s memory can be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Home of Chassell is assisting the family with the arrangements.