Paul William Romppanen of Mercer Island, beloved father, grandfather, great- grandfather, husband, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on August 4th 2024 in his home at Aljoya on Mercer Island. He passed just 2 months shy of his 98th birthday due to medical complications of advanced age. He was surrounded by a few close family members at bedside.
Paul arrived in this world on October 13, 1926 in Astoria, OR, to Willhelm and Anna Romppanen, both recent immigrants to the US from Finland. The west end of Astoria was mainly occupied by Finnish people so as a child his first language was Finnish. He later learned to speak English in school. In his later years, he could still speak and understand Finnish.
In his younger years, he made spending money helping fishermen on the docks. In his summers between his high school and college years, he commercial fished for salmon and albacore out of the mouth of the Columbia River. During high school, World War Il was going on, so after graduation he enlisted in the Navy, and attended Navy Radio & Electronics schools in Michigan City, IN, Del Monte, CA, and Corpus Christi, TX. He earned his rating as an Aviation Electronics Technician just as the war ended. From there, he went to a Naval Air Station in Livermore, CA. He was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1950, he graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Business. He completed 42 years working for the Hyster Company.
Paul loved to travel, taking many notable trips and seeing beautiful sights from all around the world. He loved to take cruises. His favorites took him down the Mexican coast and through the Panama Canal as well as a 16-day trip through the rivers of Europe. His most treasured cruise, though, was one he took with his family up and down the coast of Alaska. He enjoyed many trips to Hawaii, British Columbia, Oregon and California. He fully used his eight weeks of his Kala Point timeshare for relaxing vacations and worldwide trading. For 16 years, he split his time between two homes, spending summers at his home on Mercer Island and the winters at a second home in Palm Desert.
He was preceded in death by his wives Peggy (Margaret Burroughs) Romppanen and Bettie Skinner Romppanen. He is survived by his sibling Helen Pitkanen and his children Laurie Romppanen (Bill) Betts, and Eric Romppanen.
Paul truly loved all his family including his grandchildren: Tyler (Mackenzie) Romppanen, Sarah (Dan) Gruenberg, and John and David Malmfeldt; and two great-grandchildren: Layla and Emily Romppanen.
There will be a celebration of Paul’s life held at the Congregational Church of Mercer Island, on Sunday October 13, 2024 at 2 pm. Please go to: https://bit.ly/3WR64gL for more information.
His family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Paul’s honor to the Swedish Medical Center Foundation for the benefit of Swedish Cancer Institute: https://bit.ly/46WFiYU. His family extends their heartfelt thanks to all who loved and supported Paul to achieve a long and fulfilling life.
Paul will be missed in a way which cannot truly be expressed in words. He will never be forgotten and he will be forever loved and cherished by his family and all who knew him.
