Special Report - Tom Tikkanen

(We caught Tom in this candid shot listening to one of our speakers at a weekly meeting.)

Tom was born in Calumet on February 15, 1955. He was raised on the family farm which was settled by his grandfather and great grandfather. Unlike his father, grandfather and great grandfather, who worked in the Calumet area copper mines, Tom had other aspirations. Yet he is quick to point out that his grandfather was one of the first Finns to be promoted from "Trammer," the lowest job usually reserved for new immigrants from Sweden and Finland or Europe, to "Miner." It was a significant step leading the way to more and more immigrants being promoted.

In 1973, Tom graduated from Calumet High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as an infantryman for three years. He is most proud of his service providing security for the diplomats at the village of Pan Mun Jom in the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

After returning to civilian life, Tom enrolled in Suomi College (now Finlandia University) and graduated with an Associates Degree two years later. After graduation, he trekked to Alaska where he carried on the family mining tradition by working in an Alaskan gold mine for two years.



(L to R: Tom, Ed and Dan, the CLK Rotary triathelon team: Tom swims, Ed runs, and Dan bicycles. They routinely challenge and beat any local Rotary club that enters the competition.)




Tom is married to the love of his life, Babette, who is also a CLK Rotarian. They presently have four children in college: The oldest, Joshua and his wife, Jennifer, both U.S.Navy veterans of the Gulf War (Tom is quick to say how proud he is of that), Rudy, Christina, and Rebecca. One stepson, Corey, attends Lake Linden High School.

Tom said, "My career as a real estate broker and certified general real estate appraiser with RE/MAX Douglas spans over 21 years," adding further that, "I am hopelessly head over heels in love with this fabulous Copper Country and all of her people and I am honored to serve as Executive Director of Main Street Calumet. In fact, the Main Street Program is honored to have Tom and have just expressed their admiration by honoring him as "Main Street Executive Director of the Year."

It should be noted that Tom is a hard-working Rotarian who unhesitatingly volunteers to help in most club projects.

Both Tom and Babette have been named Paul Harris Fellows, Babette in 2005, and Tom in 2002.



(On a cold and damp Fall morning, the road clean-up volunteers get ready to start working. Tom is on the far left followed by Babette, son Corey, Sandy, Kevin, Andy, and Chuck.)


Next: Steve Dlubala