Jon W. Ahola | News, Sports, Jobs
HANCOCK, MI – Jon W. Ahola, 72, a resident of Hancock, died on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Port Health Point, UP Health System, after a 3-year illness.
Jon was born on November 7, 1949 in Hancock, Michigan, the son of the late Wilbert and Lillian Pyykkonen Ahola (Sterbis). He was a lifelong resident of Hancock and graduated from Hancock Public Schools in 1967. He enlisted in the National Guard of the Michigan Army and received an honorable discharge after six years. He also completed a degree in criminal law at Suomi College and graduated in 1976.
He married the former Carole Liimatta on August 3, 1968, and would have celebrated 54 years of marriage in August.
Jon began his career in 1968 as an apprentice and Mercy outpatient nurse. He then changed his career path to continue law enforcement. His 38-year career in law enforcement began as a police officer at the Hancock City Police Department.
He then moved to the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy and later as a detective at Tri-County Area Detectives. In 1982, he became Chief of Police of the City of Hancock and ended his career as Director of Public Safety at Michigan Tech University.
During his career in law enforcement, he also taught criminal law at the University of Finland for 27 years and influenced the design of their curriculum.
After retiring, Jon and Carole spent their winters in sunny Mesa, Arizona and their summers in beautiful Copper Country. He was a lifelong member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, a BPOE # 381 member of the Elks Club, an avid golfer and a member of the Wyandotte-O’mers and Portage Lake Golf Clubs and a youth baseball coach.
His death was preceded by his parents; brother James E Ahola and yarn Kenneth and Paul Liimata.
He survives his wife Carole, his loving partner over 53 years old; son and me, Jon and Rebecca Ahola; daughter and son-in-law, Janelle and Wes Schneider; grandchildren, Alexia and Sana (Ahola); Chase and Carsten (Schneider); sister, Carole and John Henderson; mother-in-law, Chris Ahola; weasel and yarn Doris and Doug Moyle; several siblings, nephews and cousins.
Jon’s funeral will be held on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock with Pastor Brahm acting. Friends can call the church from 10 a.m. until the funeral. Friends can also pay tribute to the family on Thursday, June 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hancock Memorial Chapel.
Instead of flowers, memorials can be made to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, the Omega House and the University of Finland to support annual grants to sign up for the criminal justice program.
Joni’s family would like to thank the staff at Portage Points for the great care and support.
He will be missed.
To view Joni’s memoir or send condolences to the family, visit www.memorial chapel.net
The burial and cremation service at Hancock Memorial Chapel will help the family make arrangements.