Toivo "Oiva" August Finnila

Jody Hane2021-03-13T21:05:26-06:00

Name: Toivo "Oiva" August Finnila
Location of Birth: Sebeka, Minnesota
Date of Birth: April 7, 1896
Date of Death: August 25, 1974 (78 years old)
Parents: Abram William Finnila & Emma (Niemi) Finnila
High School and Class:
College:
Highest Rank: Pvt (Private)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: April 28, 1918
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: December 20, 1919
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
World War I Registration Card
Name: Toivo Finnila
Age: 21
Home address: Demmon, Michigan
Date of birth: May 7, 1896 [birth records indicate April 7, 1896]
Citizenship: Natural born citizen
Place of birth: Wadena, Minnesota, USA
If not a citizen, what country: -----
Present occupation: Farmer
By whom employed: William Finnila
Where employed: Demmon, Michigan
Dependents to support: No
Marital status: Single
Race: Caucasion
Prior military service: None
Claim exception from draft: No
Tall, medium, or short: 5' 8"
Slender, medium or stout: Slender
Color of eyes: Blue
Color of hair: Brown
Bald: No
Disability: No
Date of registration: August 28, 1917
Place of registration: Hancock, Michigan
Addendum: Didn't register because I do not want to go to Europe to fight. /s/ Toivo Finnila; Witness: J. T. Kenny, Agt. Dept. Justice

Toivo Finnila was listed as a "sick and wounded" serviceman aboard the ship "Manchuria" which left St. Nazaire, France on January 10, 1919 and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey on January 22, 1919.

Wars Involved:
World War I

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Toivo had been an area resident for the past forty years.

Survivors include his wife, Hattie; one son, James; one stepson, Ralph Waisanen; one sister, Mrs. Jalmer Rinkinen; two brothers, John and Jack; and four grandchildren.

Toivo died at Itasca Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery at Coleraine, Minnesota. (Original-Block 30, Row 4, Lot 20)

Tribal Affiliation(s):