Sanna Luhtala

Surrounded by family, Sanna Gunilla Luhtala of Green Valley, AZ, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Savior on February 10, 2025, after a brief battle with aggressive colon cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Matt Luhtala, of Green Valley, AZ; one son, Mark Luhtala, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; her parents, Frans and Jenny Kastell of Alavieska, Finland; her adoptive parents Alden and Tyyne Ostlund of Ishpeming, MI; and, her sisters Helga, Kerttu, Katri, and Anneli of Australia and Finland.

Born on a farm in Alavieska, Finland, in 1941, Sanna was the youngest of ten siblings. After losing her parents and three siblings, she was raised by her sisters in a two-room log cabin. As an adolescent, she tutored the local judge’s daughter and supported her family by cleaning houses with her sisters. She emigrated alone to the United States in 1957 and was adopted by Alden and Tyyne Ostlund of Ishpeming, MI, to pursue higher education. She completed one year at Ishpeming High School and then relocated to Lake Forest, IL, working as a maid to graduate from Lake Forest High School in 1959. She completed a degree at Kendall College in Evanston, IL, and became engaged to Matt Luhtala, also a Finnish immigrant. On December 19, 1964, they married in Waukegan, IL, and then both became United States citizens on November 17, 1966. Together, they enjoyed forty-nine years of marriage until Matt’s death in 2014 while lovingly raising three children, Taina (Adam) of MN, Mark (Holly) of FL, and Erik (Natalie) of CA.

In the late 1970’s, Sanna started a greenhouse business in Gurnee, IL, growing tomato plants on their property. Within several years, she studied horticulture, and then together, Matt and Sanna nurtured a greenhouse start-up into a successful commercial nursery in the Chicago suburbs. Sanna’s warmth, hospitality, and engaging personality made their nursery a beloved place in the community, with customers often stopping in to visit Sanna.

Throughout her life, Sanna’s loving personality, Christ-like character, strong work ethic, wisdom and wit, and genuineness led her to treat greenhouse employees and customers like family; she made friends everywhere and hosted hundreds of people over “good Finnish coffee.” She served as a surrogate mother to her children’s friends and was a caring, beloved friend to many. In retirement, Sanna found great joy in hosting visitors over coffee, creating quilts, spending time with dear church friends, daily completing multiple crossword puzzles, following the stock market, and voraciously reading mystery novels. Many people have adored her quilts as gifts and her coffee and emotional hospitality as a wise, trusted friend.

Sanna is survived by: her children Taina (Adam) of Saint Paul, MN and Erik (Natalie) of La Jolla, CA; and, daughter-in-law Holly and grandchildren Janie and Eva of Brown Summit, NC. She is also survived by sisters Kaino Ojala, and Anna Kähtävä of Finland; and many nieces and nephews living in Finland, Sweden, Australia, and England.

A Celebration of Life service and reception will be held at 10am on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, AZ. In remembrance of Sanna, please make donations to Desert Hills Lutheran Church. Her family is deeply thankful for the love, prayers, and support of many friends and family in Arizona, Minnesota, Illinois, California, and Florida.