Matti Jutila

Matti Jutila (92) (March 30th, 2025)

Matti passed away having lived a full life and was a proud Finnish Canadian. He leaves behind his daughters Sheila Wafer (née Jutila), and Sharon Jutila (Mark), his granddaughter Jessii Wafer (Adam), his grandson Austin Ferron, great grandchildren Kailey Chernawsky, Rylee Wafer, and step-grandson Ravyn Mendonca. Matti has been reunited with his wife Taru Jutila (née Allen, predeceased), his daughter Shirley Ferron (née Jutila, predeceased), his grandson Clinton Wafer (predeceased), his parents Frans Oskari and Hilda Sabina Jutila (née Pihlava) of Finland (predeceased). He had many brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews, both in Finland and Canada. A special mention and thank you to his dear friend Victor Dunn for always being there. 

Many who knew Matti knew him to be an accomplished man, who enjoyed hunting, and fishing, and who worked hard his entire life. Always ready to lend a hand when someone needed it. He and his wife had moved to Canada from Finland in the late 1950s where he started a construction job while he trained. Matti was quite the avid sportsman and sports fan. He excelled at any sport he did, but wrestling was his passion. He wrestled in the Canadian Amateur Wrestling championships having won 6. He also represented Canada in the 1964 Olympics, the Pan-American Games earning a silver medal, and the Commonwealth games where he also won silver. He was also inducted into the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1987. He sure made it easy for his grandchildren to do projects on him for Heritage Fairs.

After retiring from wrestling due to an injury sustained in the Olympics where he won his first match, he was a physical educator and wrestling teacher at Laurentian University in the early 70s, and a carpenter in the Carpenter’s Union local 2486, of which he was a proud member for 68 years, before moving on to a supervisor position where he was highly regarded and known as a fixer. As a supervisor he worked throughout the USA and Canada, including the construction of Confederation Bridge in PEI. He never slowed down, and always did sports, and exercise to stay fit.

It is sad to see him go, but boy did he live while he was here.

There will be no funeral or service.

Cremation services provided by Simple Wishes of the North, Sudbury and Crystal Crematorium.

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