Memoir Pentti Manninen 1941–2021

Record maker, equipment inspector Pentti Manninen died in Kuusankoski, Kouvola, on November 15, 2021. He was 80 years old, born on January 20, 1941 in Vaajakoski.

After primary school, Manninen attended the two-year metal line at Kymi Limited Liability Company’s vocational school and got to work at Kymi’s repair shop at the age of 16. The young man had many irons on fire, because in his spare time he competed in the Kuusankoski Race team, being the best long jumpers of his age.

A permanent job in the factory made Manninen start a family at a young age. Terttu’s wife was found in the village of Nirviste in Kuusankoski. Soon in the yard of a detached house in Kytöaho, two brisk daughters who were the eyes of his father were struck.

In 1964, Kymin Oy started building a new factory in Kuusanniemi and asked Mann to join it in the repair shop. Although the man was a brave family of hackers on the mother’s side, he was a little intimidated by the new machines and working methods. However, the employees soon chose Manninen as their own shop steward. At the same time, the doors to trade union activities and the negotiating table for the entire metal industry were opened. There, the fluency of a fluent man aroused confidence. Even then, local agreement was also learned.

A few years later, the trade union switched to political activity in the ranks of the SDP. As a representative of the Ten Workers’ Association, Manninen had the opportunity to serve in the Kuusankoski City Council, as chairman of the city’s personnel committee and construction committee, and as a deputy member of the city board.

Heavy tasks of trust were counterbalanced by the movement with the deportees in the deer yachts. Supplemental oxygen was also provided by regular fishing along with the dog and a good fish buddy. In recognition of his many merits, Manninen received the first-class medal of the Order of the White Rose with gold medals from the President of the Republic.

In recent years, Manninen has been responsible for the work of a equipment inspector at the plant. However, the busy life and the bad air of factory work consumed Manninen’s lungs. In addition, the other eye was already blinded in vocational school. Manninen retired early after more than 40 years of service. This left him with time to spend happy years traveling and at the island cottage with his family and grandchildren.

Manninen’s positive attitude was maintained until the end, although his serious illness limited his life in many ways. The family and other friends will have a warm memory of an open, kind-hearted and multi-skilled man.

Pertti Manninen

Paavo Manninen

The authors are Pentti Manninen’s brothers.