John D. Lahti, 64, passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at his home in Harlingen, TX under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.
John was born Feb. 2, 1947, in Waukegan, IL, son of Uuno and Mildred Lahti. He graduated from Cable Union High School in Cable, WI, in 1965, then worked in Rockford, IL, until he was drafted into the Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam for 1 year. He was a member of the American Legion Post 487 in Cable for 46 years.
After his service in the military he moved to Merrill and began working for J.W. Perry, which started his career in the floral industry until his retirement from John Henry Co. of Lansing, MI, in 2005.
Surviving are his wife Sherry Lahti; two daughters Sarah (Joe) Matzek of River Falls, WI, Jessica Lahti of Cable, WI; one son John (Angela) Lahti of Merrill; two brothers Roy (Belinda) Lahti of Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico, and Ray (Rose) Lahti of Edwards, CO; two grandchildren Anthony and Victoria Matzek; brothers and sisters-in-law Larry and Gorgette Sampo and John and Kathy Koehler. He is further survived by nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother Uuno and Mildred Lahti, sister Millie Van Abel, and nephew Eddie Van Abel.
He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill and attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Harlingen, TX.
John loved to play golf and given the chance would golf every day, after retirement he considered that “Going to Work.”
A memorial service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Merrill on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m.