NEW LIMERICK – Henry Salo, 95, went home to be with the Lord Jan. 21, 2012. He was born Aug. 14, 1916, in Merikarvia, Finland, son of Jalmari and Hilma Salonen.
Henry served in the Finnish army from 1938 to 1940, and participated in the Finnish Winter War. He came to the U.S. in 1940 and proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. His tour of duty included the Philippines, New Guinea and Nagasaki, Hiroshima. Henry was an avid boxer and an accomplished freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestler. He enjoyed entertaining the troops at these sporting events, as well as walking and riding a bicycle across a high wire. Carpentry was Henry’s love and his occupation. He could figure out a way to make just about anything out of wood. He was a member of Carpenters Union Local 43 from 1941 to 1986, when he retired.
Henry is survived by his son, Henry A. Salo; grandson, Mark A. Salo, both of Putnam, Conn.; and three stepdaughters, Sandra Ek of Ashford, Conn., Barbara Ek and Carlene Bartlett, both of New Limerick. He is also survived by his best friend of 54 years, a 1952 Ford Workmaster tractor. Henry was predeceased by his father, mother and two brothers who lived in Finland; first wife, Laina Makiranta, in 1982; second wife, Lorena Colbeth Ek, in 2000; and son, Martin Salo, in 1997.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Dunn Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Robertson officiating. Spring interment will be at New Limerick Cemetery. Gifts may be made in Henry’s memory to the charity of one’s choice, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.