Gregory Josph Hinkkanen

Gregory Joseph Hinkkanen, 61, passed away at the Veterans Hospital on Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, but has been a long time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Greg proudly served in the US ARMY 101st Airborne Division and was stationed in Viet Nam, where he was offered a purple heart. He enjoyed restoring old cars, collecting die cast cars and gargoyles, being silly with his grandchildren, and playing in the dirt with his wife. When Greg was diagnosed with cancer, he and his family decided to fight it with faith, family, humor and good doctors. Greg did not feel like he lost the fight. Instead, he expressed no regrets in his life. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his father, Harry; father-in-law, Buster Root and one infant granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; 4 children, Paul (Christine) Hinkkanen, Stacia (Tony) Merritt, Jamie Munger, and J.C. Nettles; 2 honorary children, Andree and Keri Henfling; 9 grandchildren, Chance Hinkkanen, Luke Hinkkanen, Nathan Hinkkanen, Gregory Hinkkanen, Dakota Merritt, Tristin Merritt, Miriah Munger, Kaylin Bruening-Munger, and Hailey Munger; 2 honorary grandchildren, Kaitlyn Bye and Bailee Bye; special family friend, Joe Bye and family pets, Winston and Pooh Pooh Kitty. He is survived by his family in the Detroit, Michigan area. They are his Mother, Magdalen Hinkkanen; 4 sisters, Sylvia (Chuck) Zulhka, Celia (Greg) Laurain, Lauretta Walsh and Andrea Awishes. His in-laws in Minnesota loved him dearly. They are his mother-in-law and step father-in-law, Deloris and Maurice; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dan (Nancy) Root, Brian (Rachel) Root and Anita Root ( Ken Prokott). Not named are the many friends and colleagues for whom he was so fond. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at the Howard Ave. Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes. View and sign register book @www.bradfordokeefe.com