Aili Johanna Whelan

Aili Johanna Hautala Whelan was born Feb. 23, 1920, to Oscar and Olga Sarkijarvi Hautala in Evijarvi, Finland, and went to be with her Lord on March 19, 2008, after a short illness. Aili immigrated to America with her mother when she was 2 - years old to join her father in Mt. Iron, Minn. She graduated from high school in Buhl, Minn., in 1939. After working in the Coop Creamery in Virginia, Minn., as an accountant, she and a friend chauffeured a woman across country to California. Aili worked as a "Rosie-the-Riveter" at the Long Beach shipyards and at Luberfiner's Filters as a cost accountant before she met and married Jonathan Whelan in 1945. Jonathan, Aili, Dennis her stepson and their first son, Donald, returned to Fort Collins where Jonathan had grown up. Their other children, Dean, Debbie, Danette and Dorita, were all born in Fort Collins. Aili and Jonathan were "Superfans" at sporting events of all kinds in Fort Collins and around the state for over 50 years. Summers were spent water skiing with their children, grandchildren and friends on Horsetooth and Loveland lakes. Aili enjoyed her family's many activities. She also loved reading and word games, and spent countless hours sewing costumes and clothes even to the day preceding her stroke. Special joys for Aili, in the last few years, have been visiting Finland and attending Timberline Church and Primetimers' activities with her MANY FRIENDS. Aili was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, four brothers, stepson and great grandson, Dartanian. She is survived by many cousins and relatives in Finland and Minnesota, and by her sister, Aune Leppala and niece, LaRae Willem Koopman, of Isanti, Minn. Aili is also survived by her children, Donald Ilaisaane of Anchorage, Dean and children, Tonya and Seth Cecily of Seattle; Debbie Comegys Bob and children, Michelle, Shawn, Nicolle, Bret friend, Jane and Stephanie, Danette Gardner Doyle and children, Chandy fianc ¬, Joe and Brandon friend, Laura all of Fort Collins, Dorita Gray Bob of Ferndale, Wash.; and seven great-grandpuppies. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St. in Fort Collins. A celebration of Aili's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Road in Fort Collins. Interment Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Poudre High School Athletic Foundation or Shangilia Orphanage, Kenya, Africa, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel.

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Aili Johanna Whelan

March 23, 2008