James W. Latvala, age 69, of Cedar passed away Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Grace Pointe Crossing-Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 17th at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in East Bethel. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, Sept. 16th AT THE CHURCH. Visitation also 1 hour prior to the service Wednesday at church.
James Wallace Latvala was born November 24, 1938 at Tamarack, Minnesota to Matti and Lilja Latvala. He was raised at Tamarack and graduated from McGregor High School. Jim then served in the Army for two years. After the service he attended Brown Institute. On September 25, 1965 he married Margaret Gnahn in Aitkin. They made their first home in Columbia Heights and then moved to Cedar in 1971. Jim worked at IBM until retiring in 2000. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing gardening and playing golf.
James Latvala passed away on September 13, 2008 at Grace Pointe Crossing, Grandview Christian Home at the age of 69 years,9 months and 19 days. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Lily Latvala; one brother, Norman; two sisters, Agnes Lehmann and Arlene Latvala; four half brothers, William, Richard, George and Arne Latvala; two half sisters, Fannie Beaudette and Ailie Anderson.
He is survived by his wife, Maggie; son, Jeffrey of Hudson, Wisconsin; daughter, Carrie (Jim) Jerylo and their children, Lucas and Elise of Andover; six brothers, Arthur (Helen) of Aitkin, Eino of Tamarack, Lauri of Superior, Wisconsin, Howard of Bemidji, Donald of Blaine, David (Patricia) of Rogers; two sisters, Dorothy (Robert) Putnam of Shoreview, Doris (Donald) Nordstrom of Missoula, Montana; and by many other relatives and friends.