1919 – 2003

PORTLAND – Taisto Edward Koskela, 83, of Koskela Road, South Woodstock, died Sunday, June 29, at Maine Medical Center.

He was born on Mollockett Mountain in South Woodstock on Oct. 23, 1919, a son of Edward and Tilda Kettunen Koskela where he lived his entire life.

On June 25, 1941 he married Eleanor P. Stanley. He was a self-employed dairy farmer and woodsman and also drove a local school bus for 19 years.

He served as president of the National Co-Op Store, founding member and past president of the Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine, and was current president of the Finnish Cemetary Assoc.

At 75 he recieved his GED. He was an avid outdoorsman and a Registered Maine Guide. As a frequent member of the Biggest Bucks of Maine Club he achieved a Grand Slam by tagging a big buck, a moose and a bear at the age of 80.

His Masonic affliations included Past Master of Jefferson Lodge 100 Bryant Pond, Past High Priest, Past Illustrious Master, Past Commander, Life sponsor of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Past Master of Oxford Council and Select Master, Shriner,Thrice Illustrious Master of the Silver Trowel, Recipient of The Red Cross of Constantine and York Cross of Honor. He recently completed a book of his memories.

Surviving are his wife Eleanor of 62 years of South Woodstock; three daughters, Elaine Kesaris of Lewiston, Nancy Mason and her husband Earl of South Woodstock and Linda Pulkkinen and her husband, Joel of South Woodstock; a brother, Waito Koskela of South Woodstock; two sisters, Helvi Hale of Greenfield, Mass., and Mirja Rainey of West Paris; seven grandchildren, Karen Bennett, Alex Kesaris, Heather Tetreault, Tim Mason, Siiri Cressey, Taneli Koskela, and Laina Pulkkinen; six great-grandchildren, Stephanie Bennett, Samantha and Klayton Kesaris, Katrina and Taisto Tetreault and Elijiah Mason.

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