Another World War II veteran has died... Elmer Juhola, 91, of Marietta, died Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Marietta Center. He was born July 2, 1919 in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio to John M. and Emelia Sijostrom Juhola. He was a 1937 graduate of Harbor High School and had attended Fenn College in Cleveland, where he was a member of the Alpha Beta Fraternity. He received an Associate Degree from Washington Technical College in Marietta. Elmer was a U. S. Army veteran, serving from January of 1941 to September, 1945. He received the rank of Sergeant, serving in the Asiatic Pacific Arena. He received numerous military honors, including two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He started working at the Ashtabula Union Carbide Plant in 1947, then transferred to Marietta in 1967. He worked for Union Carbide for 34 years, retiring in 1981. He had been a member of the Second Congregational Church in Ashtabula, then in 1968, joined the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Marietta, where he held numerous positions in the governing body of the church. Elmer was a life member of American Legion Post #64 and VFW Post #5108, the Marietta RSVP, as well as an active member of the Marietta Civitan Club, where he was awarded the Civitan Honor Key. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, walking, word find puzzles and tour trips. Elmer is survived by his daughter, Diane L. Juhola of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, three grandchildren, Joseph M. Brown, Brittany A. Brown, and Dr. Todd Loftus, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen S. Balog Juhola on February 1, 2004, they had been married on June 2, 1945. Elmer is also preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl Loftus, a sister, Aili Urso, and four brothers, George, John, Swante, and Allen. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Linda Steelman officiating. The family will greet friends at the church on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until time of services. Donations may be made to the Juhola Family Trust, c/o The First Congregational Church, 318 Front Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750.
