Martikainen, Toimi Everett

Harwinton – Toimi E. Martikainen, 76, of Harwinton, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 24, 2021. Toimi was born in Bridgton, Maine on November 17, 1944. The oldest son of the late Toimi K. and Madeline (Richardson) Martikainen. He graduated from East Hartford High School in 1962 and attended Porter School of Engineering Design where he studied architecture. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1963 and was stationed in the Azores, Portugal and NORAD Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado where he met his soon to be wife, Candie. Upon release from the Air Force, Toimi and Candie were married and left immediately for Connecticut. Toimi was able to find a job at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, where he worked in the experimental test department for about 10 years. He later went to work at Lapointe Industries in Rockville, where he worked on an aircraft navigation unit for the SR-71. A couple of years later he had the opportunity to begin a new copier business, Copytex, with a good friend. Toimi became the vice president in charge of the service department. He and his partner sold the business in 2009 to Flo-tech where Toimi was located at St. Francis Hospital servicing the hospitals' printers/copiers until his retirement in 2013.

Toimi is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Candieann (Thompson); his two daughters, Christine Hazard of Harwinton and Dawn Martikainen of Torrington; his grandson, Preston Hazard of Nashville; his son-in-law, Paul Hazard of Harwinton; his brother, Kevin Martikainen and sister-in-law, Rona Martikainen of East Hartford along with his Aunt Dora Kennedy of East Harford, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard.

Toimi was an avid reader. After his retirement, he read hundreds of books. He loved to travel with his wife especially to warm climates during the cold Connecticut winters. He went on many mission trips to Guatemala where he taught English using the Bible.

Toimi was a faithful member of the Manchester church of Christ for many years where he was an elder from 2000 to 2013. The last 8 years of his life he attended the Waterbury church of Christ where he was in charge of the mission ministry. Toimi loved Jesus and His church. He taught many adult Bible classes and was instrumental in the Manchester church moving into their building on Tolland Turnpike. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Manchester church of Christ, 595 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, CT on Friday, August 13th at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Guatemala Mission, Kingsley Terrace church of Christ, Attn: Dwaine Himes, 2031 E. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46218 or online at www.missionguate.com.

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