Lassi A. Kivioja, 87, of Lafayette, Indiana, died on Monday, November 17, 2014 at Creasy Springs Health Campus. Lassi was born March 29, 1927 to Reverend Vilho Kivioja and Alice Bergroth Kivioja in Kalajoki, Finland. He immigrated to the United States in 1955 and became a naturalized citizen in 1961. On September 19, 1964, heContinue Reading
Lassi A. Kivioja, 87, of Lafayette, Indiana, died on Monday, November 17, 2014 at Creasy Springs Health Campus. Lassi was born March 29, 1927 to Reverend Vilho Kivioja and Alice Bergroth Kivioja in Kalajoki, Finland. He immigrated to the United States in 1955 and became a naturalized citizen in 1961. On September 19, 1964, he married Emily B. Rose Kerkhove in Lafayette. Lassi received his M.S. in Physics from The University at Helsinki while working at the Finnish Geodetic Institute specializing in earth's gravity. He was an instructor and received his Ph.D. from the Department of Geodetic Science at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, working there at The Mapping and Charting Laboratory. He was an educator, researcher, inventor, author, and patriot. A professor emeritus at Purdue University, his career there spanned over 26 years, where he taught and conducted research in Geodetic Sciences. Famous mathematicians (Lagrange, Laplace, Gauss) spent time trying to solve the two primary, age-old problems of geometric geodesy without success. Lassi developed a precise computer integration method which was successful in solving these problems. He was a Fellow in the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, a Life Fellow in the American Association for Geodetic Surveying, and held a U.S. patent on mercury leveling instruments. He was a consultant for The National Geodetic Survey, Argonne National Laboratories, and the U.S. Air Force Geodetic Survey Squadron. One of his recent adventures was writing a book called Earth & Space Science for Everybody. He had obtained a copyright for his next book, The Forces Powering Coronal Mass Ejections. Lassi is survived by his wife of 50 years, Emily. Also surviving is a daughter, Anne Kivioja Witter of Indianapolis, a son, David Kivioja (Susan) of Baltimore, Maryland, a step-son, Timothy Kerkhove of Lafayette, and 6 grandsons, Joseph, Erik, and Michael Witter; Daniel, Drew, and Luke Kivioja. Surviving in Finland are 2 sisters, Lea Sepponen, Eeva Laurell (Heikki), and 3 brothers, Dr. Olli Kivioja (Helja), Juho Kivioja (Sirkka), Matti Kivioja (Helena), and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by a step-son, Bradley Kerkhove of Lafayette; in Finland by his parents, 2 sisters, Leena Kivioja and Majlis Forss, and 2 brothers, Erkki Kivioja (Brita) and Pekka Kivioja (Tellervo); and in Sweden by his brother Dr. Heikki Kivioja. He was a member of Lafayette Exchange Club, the Air Force Association, National Geodetic Survey, American Geophysical Union, the former Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Lafayette, and was a veteran of the Finnish Army. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 23rd at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 24, 2014 at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel 400 Twyckenham Blvd, Lafayette, IN 47909 with Pastor Phil Wright officiating. Burial will follow at Isley Cemetery in Lafayette. Memorial Contributions may be made in Lassi's name to the Salvation Army or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Your condolence may need to be approved before it appears on this page. It may not appear immediately once submitted.
Thank you for leaving a condolence.
Your comment has been submitted for moderation.