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Juho was born in Heinola, Finland in 1890.
Juho's family lived on a farm outside Heinola, Finland. Juho had 8 siblings living in a small house. Juho's father was a tailor who walked from farm to farm, sewing clothing for the people while staying at their farms. Sometimes Juho's father was gone for weeks at a time. Already at age five, Juho joined his father to help out with the business. When moving from one location to another, Juho carried the heavy metal iron. His father had a sled or a wagon pulling the rest of his tools and products.
For seventeen hundred years, Finland was controlled by foreign powers. From the 12th to the 19th century, Finland was a province of Sweden and was in another relationship with Russia after 1809. It was not until 1917 that Finland gained its complete independence. After such a long time of dependency on foreign powers, the social conditions in Finland were less than perfect. Through hard work and dedication, Juho succeeded to get an education. Early in life, Juho joined the Socialistic Democratic Organization working for a better life for the poor. |
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Juho's wife, Saimi was born in 1894.
My great grandmother's name was Hedvig Lovisa Hampel. Her daughter, my grandmother, was named Saimi. She had eleven siblings. The family lived on a farm close to Heinola in Finland. Saimi's father, Paavo Hampel, was a wood carpenter. He walked from job to job, and was gone as long as the job lasted. His speciality was making coffins. In her youth, Saimi worked as a nurse maid at the local bishop. Despite her humble background, Saimi succeeded well academically. She got a degree in economics at the University in Helsinki. At that time, that was a great accomplishment. |
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The Finnish Civil War, 1916 to 1917
Juho and Saimi lived in a time when social responsibility was discussed and experimented with. Russia had a revolution in 1917 and turned the country's politics in the direction described in Karl Marx's Communistic Manifesto. At the time, the wealthy and powerful felt that there was a real threat that Finland could turn communistic if the workers took power.
Juho Lost 4 Brothers In The Civil War
From 1916 to 1917, there was a civil war in Finland. Juho lost 4 brothers during that war. In one situation, two of his brothers had been shot. Juha buried his brothers in the local graveyard. When people from the "other" side heard that he had buried them, they forced him to dig them up and bury them somewhere else. Juho dug his brothers up and pulled them on a cart 18 miles before he could bury them again.
Saimi Lost 2 Brothers In The Civil war
Saimi had a similar experience when two of her brothers did not come home one evening. Saimi went out looking for them and asked a group of the "other" people if they had seen them. They answered that she could go to the school yard and look because that's where the pigs are now. On the school yard were many dead people shot execution style. Saimi went from body to body lifting their heads up to see if her brothers were there, and they were.
Social Welfare For All
Juho and Saimi were part of a group of people who believed in a softer social shift of society than a communistic revolution could provide. Up until then, there had been no social services in Finland. Both Juho and Saimi had the background and education to understand what could be done. They started their life long work to build up social organizations that would support children, sick people, poor people and the elderly. When my mother, Saini, grew up, Juha operated social welfare, children's services and elderly care in his kitchen after his regular work as an electrician at Kymmene Paper Mill.
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Juho and Saimi believed that there must be a safety net for people when things are not working out the way they should. |
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As Juho and his friends worked out the infrastructure of various social organizations in Kuusankoski, the organizations turned into official departments. |
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Retirement homes and services developed, so did child care and family services. Fewer people were left all alone. |
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Juho's Recognition
Many organizations recognized the work Juha had done for the community and he received recogition for his work from many places.
• The socialistic democratic party
• The Red Cross
• The City of Kuusankoski
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The official Kuusankoski book (Kuusankosken Kirja) seen to the left mentions Juho in several chapters for the work that he did for many causes throughout society. |
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| Today, Kuusankoski prides itself in having the best social system in Finland. Juho was an important contributor to this success. |
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This photograph was taken by my father Earl at the Juho's and Saimi's home in 1953.
From left: Aila (Saini's sister), Saini, Saimi, Juho.
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Vacation
In 1953, Juha and Saimi went to Sweden to visit my mother Saini who had moved to Huskvarna some years earlier. It was one of the few vacations that they ever had. |
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My mother, Saini, grew up with her parents in a changing Finland.
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My mother Saini grew up in Finland during the Second World War. Russian airplanes flew frequently only a few meters above their house on their way to bomb a nearby railway. Often hiding in their neighbors underground cellar over a period of several years, Saini learned to appreciate the open air and nature. Fortunately, their house was never bombed but occasionally the wrecks of soviet airplanes were spread out on local roads in Kuusankoski. Saini had two sisters; Kirsti and Aila.
As the family's kitchen was the location of Kuusankoski's social department, Saini learned about life from a very different vantage point. The stories she listened to were real stories coming directly from the people who lived them.
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Saini was always studying to keep up with the times.
Saini has studied science, contemporary issues, culture and religion throughout her life. She has a strong mind for mathematics. She received a degree in economics which helped her in her professional life. When people in her surroundings showed an interest in a particular subject, Saini quickly read up on the subject so that she could discuss it comfortably. When I grew up and she saw that I had an interest in something, it did not take long for her to find ways to support my interest. |
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Saini started her career at Kuusankoski Paper Mill"s economy department. |
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From Kuusankoski to Huskvarna.
In 1950, Saini went to Sweden for a two week vacation which was extended and resulted in her living there for over 50 years. This photograph was taken when she left Finland. Saini stands to the left and her sister Aila is leaning against the bicycle. |
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In Sweden, Saini quickly found her place.
In Sweden, Saini got a job at the Husqvarna Company's economy department. Soon, she moved into the treasury department and got a position as one of the company's cashiers.
The Husqvarna Company makes a variety of technical products. On the photograph to the left, Saini is sitting on the first built motorcycle of this model. She told me that she took the motorcycle for a long ride to a nearby town, Gränna, before she decided that the motorcycle was not for her. She could not balance it while putting it up on the stand. She worked at the treasury department for four years.
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Meeting at the cafe Kroatorpet.
My father, Earl Carlson, ran a cafe, Kroatorpet, by the lake Vättern in Huskvarna. That was where my mother and father met. |
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Saini and Earl had four children.
We are all different and we all live in different locations. Thanks to the internet and telephone we can now stay in touch more frequently and talk about our interesting parents and the upbringing they gave us. From left: Katherine, Raul, Roland and me, Ronny. |
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Saini continued her career.
When my siblings and I all had started school, Saini went back to work and created herself a position at Munksjö Paper Mill in Jönköping. For over twenty years, Saini was Munksjö's Treasurer, keeping track of the company's cash flow and book keeping.
Munksjö is a worldwide manufacturer of speciality papers. |
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Today, Saini keeps up with her family on the telephone and through frequent travels. She is active in her community and still lives in Jönköping close to Huskvarna. |
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