Arnold Arvid Herman Koivu passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at the age of 88 after saying his last goodbyes to Eila, his wife of 64 years, his sons Eric and Alan, daughter-in-law Jeannie and grandson Alex and Taylor. In the past few years, Arnold lived at Hogarth Riverview Manor, Spruce Grove, but before that, he lived for over 60 years on Rockwood Avenue in the home he built for his family with his carpenter father, Lahja.
Arnold was born on July 12, 1934, in the family home on Crown Street in Port Arthur, Ontario. He spent much of the first seven years of his life at winter logging camps at various locations in the One Island Lake, Dog Lake and Lake Nipigon areas. His parents, Lahja and Sandra, worked respectively, as the camp carpenter and cook. The family lived and worked at the logging camps from late October to spring break-up where Arnold was the only child present among the 50 or more Finnish loggers, so he grew up with a great deal of attention! Arnold continued his involvement with the logging industry when, at the age of 15, he had a summer job on a tugboat pulling log booms from Pigeon Bay to Fort William.
When Arnold was 7, the family returned to Port Arthur so he could attend Cornwall Avenue Public School, then Port Arthur Collegiate Institute. While at PACI, Arnold was involved with various clubs including the Army Cadets Marching Band. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, Arnold played accordion semi-professionally in a dance band which regularly played at dances at the Finlandia Hall and other locations. Arnold later said that the years he spent performing on stage gave him the confidence and ease needed to speak to hundreds of students at school assemblies.
After graduating from PACI, Arnold completed the one-year engineering programme at Lakehead Technical Institute, the precursor to Lakehead University. He then transferred to Queens University in Kingston, where he graduated in 1958 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Arnold met his future wife, Eila Myllari, in 1953 when he was best man at the wedding of his future brother-in-law, Raymond Myllari. Meanwhile, Eila served as Valma’s bridesmaid in the same wedding party. The other two members of the bridal party left the wedding early, so Arnold and Eila were left together for the rest of the night… and, as it turns out, the rest of their lives. Arnold and Eila were very involved in the Finlandia Club and attended dances at the Finn hall every weekend. They were married on August 23, 1958, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Secord Street, Port Arthur. Throughout their 64-year marriage, Arnold and Eila were fiercely protective of each other and this quality became stronger and stronger as they got older. Arnold and Eila were proud to have two sons: Eric (born 1959) and Alan (born 1962).
After graduation, Arnold worked for one year as a staff engineer at the Reed Paper Company in Dryden and then for several years at C.D. Howe Consulting Engineers in Port Arthur, where the company owner described him as having a “golden touch” with his engineering designs. Arnold was well known for his very neat “Engineering Block Lettering” handwriting, on everything from engineering designs to his family’s birthday cakes.
Arnold switched careers into education literally by accident. An engineering colleague at CD Howe was injured in car crash and asked Arnold to take over the teaching of his night school course in drafting at Selkirk C.V.I. Arnold finished teaching the course and impressed the principal so much that he was offered a full-time teaching high school position starting in September 1962. Arnold initially taught chemistry, math and general science but switched over to drafting and soon took on the role of Technical Department Director. For many summers, Arnold took his young family to southern Ontario where he completed university courses to acquire, retroactively, his teaching certificate, Bachelor of Education, Masters of Education and Principals’ Qualifications.
Arnold became vice-principal at Selkirk C.V.I. in 1974 where his “fair, firm and friendly” approach earned him the respect of countless staff members and students. Later in his career, Arnold also served as an administrator at Lakeview, Northwood and Hillcrest High Schools. During his 31-year career with Lakehead Public Schools, he positively influenced the trajectory of the lives of thousands of students. Over the years, everyone in the family has been approached by Arnold’s former students, with stories of how Mr. Koivu’s support and wise counsel changed their lives. Each time the family is asked, “Do you know Mr Koivu?” we are always proud to say “yes”.
Arnold took early retirement at the age of 58 after which he and Eila had time to pursue their love of travel. They enjoyed countless trips to various destinations in Europe, the Caribbean and across Canada. In addition, Eila’s greatest passion in life was downhill skiing and she and Arnold went on many trips to resorts in Alberta, Quebec, Colorado and British Columbia. However, their greatest love was spending time at their camps at One Island Lake and Dog Lake with their family and their beloved beagles, Neli, Kaisa and Maija.
Arnold’s great joy in his life centered around his four grandchildren: Erin, Emma, Alex, and Ari. Arnold and Eila were well known figures at their grandchildrens’ schools, attending every single concert, play, graduation, and many, many field trips. In his later years, Arnold took enormous pride in their educational and career successes. He was always available to offer sensible, experienced advice on the widest variety of topics, from how to fell a tree or fix a car to how to have a successful job interview.
Arnold will be greatly missed by his wife of 64 years, Eila; his sons, Eric (Jeannie) and Alan (Jamie); and grandchildren, Erin (Trystan), Emma (Bradley), Alex (Taylor) and Ari. Arnold was predeceased by his parents, Lahja and Sandra Koivu.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Hogarth Riverview Manor – Spruce Grove for their fantastic, compassionate care they provided to Arnold.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023 in the reception hall of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, beginning at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to a charity of choice.
