George "Joe" Arthur Saukkola, 81, of Kimball, died Sunday, May 11, 2008, at his home. Funeral services were Thursday, May 15, at the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Kingston, with Pastor Orval Wirkkala and Sven Johansson officiating. Interment was at the Apostolic Cemetery in Kingston. He is survived by his wife, Helen of Kimball; children, Susan (JeRay) Buerkle of Ramsey, Ronald (Darlene) Saukkola of Kimball, Carol (Bruce) Selin of Snohomish, Wash., Deanna (Lloyd) Scheeler of Kimball, Douglas (Susan) Saukkola of Kingston, Rick Saukkola of St. Cloud, Shirley (Jeff) Gilpatrick of Kimball, and daughter-in-law, Diana Saukkola of Grove City; 23 grandchildren, Audra Hyatt, Kristina Sherer, Jason Saukkola, Blaine Saukkola, Amy DeWenter, Mathias Selin, Rebecca Selin, Kirsti Selin, Kaatri Selin, Margaret Selin, Levi Scheeler, Jacob Scheeler, Samuel Scheeler, Caleb Saukkola, Emily Aho, Isaac Saukkola, Kimberly Simmonds, Randy Saukkola, Jared Saukkola, Jonathan Gilpatrick, Erin Gilpatrick, Jenifer Gilpatrick, and Erika Gilpatrick; 11 great grandchildren; and three sisters, Mary Hokkanen of Kimball, Evelyn (John) Dorn of Belle Plaine, and Verna Dahnke of South Haven. George was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Doris; son, Larry; granddaughter, Kali Jo Gilpatrick; brothers, John, Robert, Arthur, and Carl; sisters, Mabel Saukkola, Eva Hokkanen, and Helen Whitacre. George Arthur Saukkola, the son of Karl (Charles) and Hanna Effina (Matsen) Saukkola, was born on June 14, 1926, in Kingston Township, Meeker County. He grew up and attended District No. 61 country school for his education. George received an honorary diploma with the class of 2001 at Kimball Area High School. George enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1944 until 1946. He was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division. He received a Bronze Star. On Jan. 20, 1945, George was united in marriage to Doris Holm in Little Rock, Ark. They had eight children, and made their home in the Kingston area. Doris preceded him in death on July 26, 1988. On Oct. 21, 1989, George was united in marriage to Helen Koskiniemi at the Spruce Grove Apostolic Lutheran Church, Wolf Lake, and they lived in the Kingston area. George was an auctioneer for 55 years. He farmed from 1946 until 1978. He also did livestock trucking and sold cemetery monuments. George will be remembered for his sense of humor and love of a good story or joke. He was a member of the Kingston Apostolic Lutheran Church, serving on the church board for many years. He was on the Kimball School Board for 18 years, and was a member of the Johnson-Kelly American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, threshing shows, and was an avid collector of antique cars and tractors. George and Helen enjoyed spending the past 13 winters in Texas.