Alton Juntunen

Alton Elwood Juntunen, 85, of Mt. Pleasant, IA died peacefully Thursday, February 09, 2012, at Sunnybrook Assisted Living. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. A funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Monte Knudsen and Reverend Michael Juntunen officiating. Interment will be at the Forest Home Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Faith Christian Outreach Church. Born September 20, 1926, near Bryant, South Dakota, Alton was the son of Vean and Teckla (Sotka) Juntunen. He graduated in 1943 from Lake Norden High School in Lake Norden, South Dakota. He married Myrtle Arlene Paige on August 21, 1954 in Watertown, South Dakota. She preceded him in death on June 16, 1998. Alton worked as a mechanic in various garages in Rapid City, South Dakota and later retired from Norden Motor in Lake Norden. He also enjoyed farming with his father on the family farm. He and Myrtle moved to the Mt. Pleasant area in the early 1990's to be closer to family. An avid baseball fan, Alton enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves. In his younger years he pitched for a local recreational baseball team in Lake Norden. His hobbies included repairing televisions and watching old comedies and westerns. He also enjoyed playing the guitar. His family and friends especially enjoyed his dry sense of humor. He attended Faith Christian Outreach Church. Survivors include six sons, Michael (Nancy) Juntunen of Debrecen, Hungary, Dann (Karla) Juntunen of Brookville, OH, Robert (Malou) Juntunen of Frazier Park, CA, Dale (Diana) Juntunen of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Scott (Dee) Juntunen of Colorado Springs, CO, and Steven (Brenda Rude) Juntunen of Callaway, MN; ten grandchildren, Paul, Mark, and Matthew Juntunen, Brian Juntunen and Julie Russell, Aaron Juntunen and Michelle Dorris, Amy Guo and Lisa Mullen, and Caitlynn Juntunen; several great-grandchildren; one brother, Erland Juntunen of Lake Norden, SD; and one sister, Eunice Larsen of Cupertino, CA. Along with his wife, Myrtle, Alton is preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, and a sister, Violette Lawson.