Matt J. Luhtala

Matt John (Matti Juhani) Luhtala passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on November 28, 2014 in Green Valley, AZ after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Matt was born on November 26, 1937 on a farm in Kortesjarvi, Finland to Antti and Impi Luhtala.

He emigrated from Finland to the United States in 1957 after serving mandatory duty in the Finnish Army as a young man. Upon arriving in the US, he also served a full tour of duty in the US Army. Following discharge, he married Sanna (Kastell) Luhtala with whom he enjoyed nearly fifty years of marriage. After working at Abbott Laboratories as a chemical technician and then as a commercial truck driver, along with his wife Sanna, he started and ran a successful commercial greenhouse business for 30 years in the Chicago area.

One of his greatest passions was choral singing. As such, he was an enthusiastic member of the Sibelius Male Chorus of Chicago for over 25 years. Most of all, he was a loving husband, a dedicated father and grandfather, and committed to doing all things with excellence; he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his devoted wife Sanna, and his children: Taina of Chicago, IL, Mark (Holly), and daughters (Janie, Eva) of West Palm Beach, FL and Erik (Natalie) of San Diego, CA. He is also survived by a sister, Anna Liisa Palojarvi (Juhani), and brother, Jaakko (Hannele) Luhtala, both of Kortesjarvi, Finland, as well as extended family and friends in both Finland and the US.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, AZ. In remembrance of Matt, donations may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (apdaarizona.org) or to the Desert Hills Lutheran Church of Green Valley, AZ. The family is especially thankful for the prayers and support of many friends and family, as well as his excellent long-term caregivers Nieves Meyers, Elizabeth Abt, and Tommie Condra, and everyone at Gentiva Hospice.