Wesley Eugene Korpi of Mystic, died Saturday, October 9, 2010 at Apple Rehabilitation after a lengthy battle with esophageal cancer. He was 72.
Born June 12, 1938 at the family farm home in Sandstone, Minnesota, Mr. Korpi was the son of the late Elmer and Amy (Johnson) Korpi.
He married the former Gretchen Gilmore on October 31, 1969 in Biloxi, Mississippi. She survives him. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter and her husband, Katrina Korpi and Duncan Denny, and two grandchildren, Maxson and Marielle Denny, all of Mystic. He is also survived by two sisters, Mildred Gustafson of Mora, MN and Judith LaGue of Plymouth, MN. Two brothers, Arnold and Irvin Korpi, and a sister, Arlene Robbins, predeceased him.
Mr. Korpi retired from a 27-year career in the military in 1988. He served 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, followed by 23 years in the U.S. Navy. As a second career, he worked for Ledyard Public Schools’ maintenance department, retiring as its director in 2004.
Aside from being a devoted family man, Mr. Korpi’s interest included fishing, gardening, carpentry and hunting. He was also respected as a true “Mr. Fix-it”, possessing a remarkable ability to repair things around the home for family members and friends.
A memorial service to celebrate Wes’ good life will be held at the Dinoto Funeral Home on Friday at 11 a.m., preceded by a visitation hour there at 10a.m. Burial, with military honors, will take place immediately following at Mystic’s Elm Grove Cemetery. All family and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Jocelyn Diabetes Center, c/o L&M Hospital, 365 Montauk Ave., New London CT 06320
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