Info Sheet - Gary Harold Antilla
Died 4 May 2020 - comments Michael Olsen
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Gary Harold Anttila, age 70, of Pembine, Wisconsin and formerly of Limestone, died Monday, May 4, 2020 at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain. He was born in Marquette, Michigan to the late Harold and Lillian (Laakso) Anttila on March 31, 1950. Gary grew up in Limestone and graduated from Eben High School in 1968. Following school, he moved to Grand Rapids for work and then was drafted into the U.S. Army. Gary served in the Vietnam War as an avionics mechanic, and was honorably discharged as a Specialist Grade 4, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. Gary returned home to Limestone and began working as a logger with Red Seymour. Gary married Patricia Fehrle together they had a son John. The family had moved out west to South Dakota where Gary worked for the Railroad. He worked a number of jobs in South Dakota on to Wyoming as a logger, rancher, trucker, and mail truck deliveryman. His love for the outdoors that was instilled as a young man in the U.P. followed everywhere he moved. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and horseback riding. Gary moved back to be closer to family in 2004. He had a great sense of humor was always witty with his family and his favorite waitresses. He would tell his family I am “THE Genuine Old Coot”.
Gary is survived by his son and daughter-in-law – John and Rochelle Anttila of Ingalls, MI; grandchildren – Lacey Kay and Kaden Ray Anttila; sisters – Cheryl Maki of Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Rhonda (Allen) Bossom of Eben Junction, and Janice (Bill) Chasteen of Gillette, WY; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents – Harold and Lillian; and nephew – Adam Maki.
Michael Olson: We got to D Troop in Cu Chi on the same day. I think it was around the last of May 1970. He was drafted so he was an RA for a 2 year hitch. If we add basic training, AIT (his MOS was 35K20 which was 18 weeks at FT. Gordon), close to a months leave, and then to NAM. We came home from there around the end of April 1971. When he came back to the WORLD, he was Honorably Discharged. Plus the Army was awarding 179 Day Drops when they came back.