Martin Halonen Martin Fredrick Halonen, 78, of Lantana, Florida, and Hessel, served his country during the Korean War as an Army infantryman from 1952 to 1954 in the 32nd Infantry Regiment, where he received the Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Ribbon, and two Bronze Stars. He later worked for the Department of the Air Force. Mr. Halonen died Wednesday, February 17, 2010, in Lantana.

He was born September 28, 1931, in Rudyard to Charles Arthur and Nina Sofia (nee Hendrickson) Halonen.

Mr. Halonen grew up on the family farm in Rudyard and was graduated from Rudyard High School in 1949.

He served his country during the Korean War. It was at boot camp in Breckenridge, Kentucky, where he met the love of his life on Christmas Eve. While Mr. Halonen was walking to the base chapel, one of his fellow Upper Peninsula residents, Glenn Ehle, was driving by with his parents and sister, Peggy. Mr. Ehle said to his family, “Stop and pick him up, he’s the guy from Rudyard.”

Mr. and Mrs. Halonen were married April 9, 1955, in Rudyard and enjoyed 54 years of marriage.

He was graduated from telegraphers school and worked for the New Central Railroad in Lansing, Mackinaw City/Cheboygan, Owosso, and then again in Lansing for a total of nine years. He also worked for a trucking company in Owosso and at McDowell Implement in Rudyard before starting a 30-year career for the Department of the Air Force at Kincheloe Air Force Base, completing his service with the Department of Defense in Battle Creek.

In 1969, at age 57, he retired and enjoyed his summers on Point Brulee in Hessel, telling “Toivo and Eino” stories around the campfire, and his winters in Lantana with fellow horseshoe pitchers and many whom he called “fellow Finlanders.”

Mr. Halonen was active at the Living Word Lutheran Church in Lantana and the Bethel Lutheran Church in Cedarville. He was a member of the Lake Worth Horseshoe Club, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Rudyard Historical Society, Les Cheneaux Historical Society, and the American Association of Kidney Patients.

He enjoyed playing horseshoes, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, baseball, horse pulling, Finnish heritage and music, making Finnish cheese, and shooting at geese from the deck at Point Brulee with a wrist rocket and iron ore pellets. His most treasured times were spent at “Brulee” with his son and daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Margaret “Peggy” Halonen; a son, Gregory Halonen of Wyoming, Michigan; three grandchildren, Emily Vaness, Dana Heminger, and Kevin Halonen; and two greatgrandchildren, Bralynn Vaness and Joseph Halonen. Also surviving is his sister, Dorothy Altonen of Ashtabula, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Charlie Halonen.

Services will be held in the spring at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cedarville. Inurnment will be in Cedar Cemetery in Cedarville.

Memorials may be directed to St. James Lutheran Church, 11118 3rd Street, Rudyard, Michigan 49780; Bethel Lutheran Church, 217 North M-129, Cedarville, Michigan 49719; or Living Word Lutheran Church, 2116 Lantana Road, Lantana, Florida 33462.

Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford is assisting the family with arrangements.