Arnold M. Laukkanen, 85, formerly of Waldoboro, died April 7 from pancreatic cancer at his daughter’s home in Lexington, Mass. He was predeceased by his wife, Aili Lampinen Laukkanen, formerly of Warren, in 2004. Born Sept. 6, 1920 in Chassel, Mich., he was the son of the late Margareta and Matti Niemistö and the stepson of the late Hiski Laukkanen. A WWII veteran, Mr. Laukkanen retired as Staff Sargent/Rifleman Squad Leader. He served in the military for six years including in the 347th infantry division in England, France, Germany, Luxemburg, and Belgium. Prior to the war, he was stationed in California, Venezuela, and Aruba with the coast artillery. An avid outdoorsman, Arnold enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, and gardening. He loved animals and over the years he raised mink, quail, pheasants, and horses, and bred Shetland sheepdogs. He also enjoyed flying small airplanes and performing aerobatic exercises. A retired finish carpenter, Mr. Laukkanen also worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Stamford, Conn. where he lived since 1964. Previously, Mr. Laukkanen lived in Ishpeming, Mich., where he mined iron ore and other minerals for 12 years and prior to that, in Warren where he was a farmer. In addition to his wife of 59 years, Mr. Laukkanen was predeceased by his son, Gene Arnold, in 1955. He is survived by four daughters, Irene Torres of Warren, Ann Marie Mones of Trumbull, Conn., Julie Laukkanen of Lexington, Mass., and Lisa Laukkanen of San Francisco, Cal.; 11 grandchildren including Christina Torres-York of Warren, Theresa Kenniston of Warren, Antoinette Torres-Jones of Washington, Tamara Casas of Washington, and Matthew Torres of Warren; 12 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and two sisters, Martha Shelde of Cook, Minn. and Ida Johnson of Bay Village, Ohio. Services April 8 at Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro and interment at Sawyer Cemetery, Warren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the conservation group Trout Unlimited, 1300 North 17th St., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22209.
