Donald Pykkonen

Atkins-Northland Funeral Home

Altogether<br/>4307 Vineland Road, Suite H-17-19, Orlando, FL 32811<br/>For more information, visit our website at <a href='www.altogetherfuneral.com'>www.altogetherfuneral.com</a><br/>Copyright © 2025 FPG Intermediate Holdco, LLC

Donald William Pykkonen, 83, lifelong resident of Esko passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 25, 2019. He was born June 11, 1935 in Esko, Minnesota to Charles and Ellen Pykkonen. He graduated from Esko High School in 1953. Don married the love of his life, Marilyn Ruth Lillian Filby, on June 7th, 1958. They built their home of 47 years in 1961, where they raised their three children. 
 
He attended UMD for 2 ½ years, graduated from the CUNA School and Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He was employed as a teller and consumer lender at the Cloquet Co-op Credit Union, and later joined the First National Bank of Cloquet as a lender in consumer and real estate loans. He finished his banking career as Vice President of consumer, real estate, and commercial loans at the Pioneer National Bank of Duluth, retiring in 1998. 
 
Don was a lifelong member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, serving on and leading numerous boards and committees, and singing in the choir for 68 years. He also served on the Esko School Board, was a member of several area Kiwanis Clubs, served in several community and civic capacities, and delivered Meals on Wheels until 2016. Don exemplified integrity in his professional life, and had a gift for cultivating and nurturing old and new friendships in his personal life. He and Marilyn hosted countless friends and family for coffee and cardamom biscuit at their home. 
 
Don enjoyed Saturday night sauna, time at the cabin, landscaping, and supporting the Esko sports teams. SISU doesn't begin to describe Don's identification with his Finnish heritage. He spoke Finnish fluently and had a passionate interest in his Finnish heritage and genealogy which inspired him and Marilyn to make four trips to Finland and establish strong relationships with relatives in their country of origin. Don organized a two-week bus tour for 46 people to Finland in 2011. He assisted a cousin in research, Finnish language translation, and editing of a family history book in 2016. 
 
Don was preceded in death by infant twin sons born prematurely; four siblings, Roger, Merton (Joyce), Kenneth, Doris; and brother-in-law, Roger Mattson. 
 
Don is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Beth (Joe Bergstedt) Esselstrom; sons, John (Samantha) Pykkonen, Jeff (Keri Hager) Pykkonen; grandsons, Nathan, Jordan (Debbi), Jaren, Seth, and Derek Pykkonen, and Dallyn Martineau. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Leo Seikkula and Elden (Sandy) Filby; and sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Pykkonen and Karen Mattson; and numerous extended family members. 
 
The family extends deep appreciation to Dr. Timothy Kleinschmidt and the St. Luke's Hospice team for their compassionate care of Don and his entire family. 
 
Visitation: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 1st, 2019 in St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Esko. Visitation will continue from 1:00 until the 2:00 p.m. Celebration of Don's Life Saturday, February 2nd, also in St. Matthews Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the spring in St. Matthews Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Matthews Lutheran Church Endowment Fund. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, loquet. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.

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