Arni Hanninen, of Methuen, Massachusetts at 3 months shy of 100 years old, died November 19, 2016, at the Holy Family Hospital, in Methuen, Massachusetts, of congestive heart failure. Arni was born in Wareham, MA on February 12, 1917, the son of the late Johannes and Hannah (Leppaluoto) Hanninen.
Arni graduated from the class of 1935 from Wareham High School, Wareham, Ma. He worked at Mears Heel and DASA for many years as a tool and die maker. He enjoyed playing golf, bowling, dancing, ping pong, sauna, clam bakes as well as following the Red Sox and Patriots. Arni was a mathematician above all else always calculating without the aid of a computer or slide rule and was exceptionally proud of his high accuracy. Arni enlisted in the Air Force during WWII and completed training to fly a P-47 Thunderbolt. He attained the rank of Major as part of his continuing contribution in the Air Force reserves. He spent many winter months with Shirley, Margaret and Jack and with many other longtime friends from Cape Cod in Stuart, Florida
Arni was predeceased by his wife Shirley of 71 years just 2 short weeks ago leading to speculation that he may have died from a broken heart. He leaves his son, Michael Hanninen and wife Cheryl of Salem, N.H. and daughter Nancy Sheehan and partner Kenneth Lynch of Sandy Hook, CT. He had five granddaughters: Kelly Sheehan, Cynthia Shortridge, Chelsea, Mackenzie and Camryn Hanninen. Two grandsons: Christopher Sheehan and is predeceased by Colin Sheehan. Arni also had four great-granddaughters: Cameron Sheehan and her mother Catherine Sheehan, Alexis Carpenter and Hannah and Sarah Baker, along with two great-grandsons, Jared Carpenter and Lucas Baker. He was predeceased by his sisters Lilian Niemi and Elsie Heleen.
Calling hours will be Tuesday 11/22 from 12:00 to 2:00 at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen, MA. Funeral services will be at the convenience of the family.
We offer special thanks to the nursing staff at Holy Family for making Arni’s last hours more comfortable. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the charity of your choice.