Famous Dead People from Finland — Obituaries

Klaus Törnudd, Finnish diplomat and researcher, died on August 17, 2026

Klaus Törnudd dead at age 94

Klaus Törnudd, the Finnish diplomat and researcher,
died on August 17, 2026, aged 94. Born in Helsinki on December 26, 1931, he studied at the University of Helsinki and later…

August 17, 2026 5:55 pm

Erkki Pystynen, Finnish politician, died on August 9, 2026

Erkki Pystynen dead at age 96

Erkki Pystynen, the Finnish politician who served as speaker of the Parliament of Finland from 1983 to 1986,
died on August 9, 2026, aged 96. Born Erkki Topias Pystynen in…

August 9, 2026 1:55 pm

Seppo Sairanen, Finnish footballer and manager, died on July 30, 2026

Seppo Sairanen dead at age 74

Seppo Sairanen, the Finnish footballer and manager who played as a goalkeeper and later coached FC Jazz,
died on July 30, 2026, aged 74. Born in Pori on March 23,…

July 30, 2026 4:55 pm

Kristina Carlson, Finnish writer, died on July 28, 2026

Kristina Carlson dead at age 76

Kristina Carlson, the Finnish writer,
died on July 28, 2026, aged 76. Born in Helsinki on July 31, 1949, she worked as a journalist, poet and novelist and also wrote…

July 28, 2026 1:55 pm

Eeva Kilpi dead at age 98

Eeva Kilpi, the Finnish writer and poet whose work ranged from feminist humor to broader reflections on life and society,
died on June 27, 2026, at age 98. Born Eeva…

June 27, 2026 5:55 pm

Tapani Peltola dead at age 66

Tapani Peltola
died on June 26, 2026. Tags Other, 26 June 2026, Capricorn, Finland, Peltola, Tapani, June 2026, June 26

June 26, 2026 6:56 pm

Timo Hantunen dead at age 76

Timo Hantunen
died on June 25, 2026. He was a Finnish co-driver, known for his role in rallying. Born on December 5, 1949, Hantunen was 76. Tags Athletes, 25 June…

June 25, 2026 10:55 pm

Jani Wickholm dead at age 48

Jani Wickholm, a Finnish singer and politician who finished second in the 2004 Finnish Idols competition,
died on June 23, 2026. He was 48. Born in Kerava on September 20,…

June 23, 2026 4:55 pm

Jerzy Bańczerowski dead at age 88

Jerzy Bańczerowski, a Polish professor of philology,
died on June 9, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on October 28, 1938, in Ożarów, he built a career in general…

June 9, 2026 12:00 am

Arvi Lind dead at age 85

Arvi Lind, the Finnish television news presenter best known for his long career with Yle TV1,
died on June 7, 2026, at the age of 85. Born Arvi Kullervo Lind…

June 7, 2026 12:00 am

Jokke Seppälä dead at age 72

Jokke Seppälä
died on June 5, 2026. Tags Musicians, 05 June 2026, Finland, Jokke, June 2026, June 5, Seppälä

June 5, 2026 5:55 am

Jouko Purontakanen dead at age 78

Jouko Purontakanen
died on June 3, 2026. Tags Other, 03 June 2026, Finland, Jouko, Pisces, Porvoo, Purontakanen, June 2026, June 3

June 3, 2026 12:19 pm

Tutu Sohlberg dead at age 84

Tutu Sohlberg
died on June 3, 2026. Sohlberg was a Finnish Olympic equestrian who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Tags Other, 03 June 2026, Finland, Leo, Sohlberg, Tutu, June…

June 3, 2026 12:00 am

Marko Koivuranta dead at age 48

Marko Koivuranta
died on May 31, 2026. He was a Finnish footballer. Tags Athletes, 31 May 2026, Finland, Koivuranta, Marko, Pisces, May 2026, May 31

May 31, 2026 3:58 pm

Jutta Zilliacus, Journalist and author, died on May 30, 2026

Jutta Zilliacus dead at age 100

Jutta Zilliacus, a Finnish-Estonian politician, journalist and author,
died on May 30, 2026, at the age of 100. Born Jutta Armelle Zilliacus in Helsinki on July 25, 1925, she worked…

May 30, 2026 12:00 am

Esa Klinga dead at age 86

Esa Klinga, a Finnish Olympic skier and Nordic combined competitor,
died on May 26, 2026. He was born on November 21, 1939, in Mikkeli, Finland. Klinga competed in the Nordic…

May 26, 2026 12:00 am

Kyösti Virrankoski, MP, MEP, died on May 21, 2026

Kyösti Virrankoski dead at age 82, Finnish politician, MP, MEP

Kyösti Virrankoski, the Finnish politician who served as an MP from 1991 to 1995 and as an MEP from 1996 to 2009,
died on May 21, 2026, at the age…

May 21, 2026 12:00 am

Timo Kautonen, Finnish footballer, died on May 6, 2026

Timo Kautonen dead at age 81

Timo Kautonen, a Finnish footballer,
died on May 6, 2026, at the age of 81. He played 42 matches for the Finland national football team from 1964 to 1976 and…

May 6, 2026 12:00 am

Pirkko-Liisa Lehtosalo-Hilander dead at age 91

Pirkko-Liisa Lehtosalo-Hilander
died on April 30, 2026. Tags Scientists, 30 April 2026, Finland, April 2026, April 30, Lehtosalo-Hilander, Pirkko-Liisa

April 30, 2026 4:26 pm

Vuokko Nurmesniemi, Finnish textile designer, died on April 19, 2026

Vuokko Nurmesniemi Finnish textile designer dead at age 96

Vuokko Nurmesniemi, the Finnish textile designer known for her work at Marimekko,
died on April 19, 2026, at the age of 96. Born Vuokko Hillevi Lilian Eskolin in Helsinki on…

April 19, 2026 12:00 am

Juha Miettinen Finnish racing driver, racing incident dead at age 66

Juha Miettinen
died on April 18, 2026, in a racing incident. He was a Finnish racing driver. No further details were provided about his career or personal life. Juha Miettinen,…

April 18, 2026 12:00 am

Erik Kruskopf, Finnish art critic, died on April 14, 2026

Erik Kruskopf Finnish art critic dead at age 95

Erik Kruskopf, a Finnish art critic,
died on April 14, 2026, at the age of 95. He was also an art historian and writer and was a member of Finland’s…

April 14, 2026 12:00 am

Anja Hatakka, Finnish actress and beauty pageant competitor, died on April 10, 2026

Anja Hatakka dead at age 88

Anja Hatakka
died on April 10, 2026. Tags Actors, 10 April 2026, Anja, Finland, Hatakka, April 10, April 2026

April 10, 2026 4:52 pm

Irmeli Mäkelä, Pop singer, died on March 15, 2026

Irmeli Mäkelä Pop singer dead at age 83

Irmeli Mäkelä, a Finnish pop singer,
died on March 15, 2026, at the age of 83. Born Hellä Muisto Irmeli Mäkelä in Kotka on October 18, 1942, she began her…

March 15, 2026 12:00 pm

Ralf Friberg Finnish journalist and politician dead at age 89

Ralf Friberg, a Finnish journalist, diplomat and politician,
died on March 13, 2026. He served as a Social Democratic MP and worked in journalism at Västra Nyland, Östra Nyland and…

March 13, 2026 12:00 pm

Rauno Lehtiö Finnish Olympic ice hockey player dead at age 84

Rauno Lehtiö, a Finnish ice hockey player and 1964 Olympic competitor,
died on March 9, 2026, in Tampere at the age of 84. Born in Tampere on March 3, 1942,…

March 9, 2026 12:00 pm

Ari Salin Finnish Olympic hurdler and sprinter dead at age 79

Ari Salin, a Finnish hurdler and sprinter who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics,
died on March 4, 2026. Born on January 20, 1947, he set Finnish records in both…

March 4, 2026 12:00 pm

Veikko Virtanen Organ builder dead at age 97

Veikko Virtanen, a Finnish organ builder,
died on February 17, 2026, at the age of 97. Born Veikko Armas Virtanen in Helsinki on June 14, 1928, he built organs through…

February 17, 2026 12:00 pm

Esa Pakarinen Jr. Finnish actor dead at age 78

Esa Pakarinen Jr., a Finnish actor,
died on February 12, 2026, at the age of 78. Born in Varkaus on December 12, 1947, he worked as an actor, comedian, director…

February 12, 2026 12:00 pm

Pekka Vennamo Finnish politician dead at age 81

Pekka Vennamo, a Finnish politician and corporate executive,
died on February 10, 2026. He led the Finnish Rural Party from 1979 to 1989 and served in the Parliament of Finland…

February 10, 2026 12:00 pm

Pentti Lindegren Finnish ice hockey player and commentator dead at age 86

Pentti Lindegren, a Finnish ice hockey player and commentator,
died on February 7, 2026. Born in Hauho on December 18, 1939, he played in Finland for HIFK, in the Finnish…

February 7, 2026 12:00 pm

Leo Hilokoski Finnish bowler dead at age 84

Leo Hilokoski, a Finnish bowler,
died on February 4, 2026. Born in Helsinki in 1941, he won the world team bowling title in 1975 and the European championship in 1973.…

February 4, 2026 12:00 pm

Manne Liimatainen Finnish Olympic cross-country skier dead at age 82

Manne Liimatainen, a Finnish cross-country skier,
died on February 1, 2026, at age 82. Born on March 31, 1943, in Kannonkoski, Finland, he competed in the men's 15 kilometre event…

February 1, 2026 12:00 pm

Freddy Ehrström Finnish Olympic sailor dead at age 100

Freddy Ehrström, a Finnish Olympic sailor,
died on January 21, 2026. Born Fredrik August Ehrström on August 29, 1925, in Helsinki, Finland, he competed in the Star event at the…

January 21, 2026 12:00 pm

Arvo Siikamäki

Finnish sculptor
Died on Wednesday January 21st 2026

January 21, 2026 2:35 am

Pertti Voutilainen

Finnish banker and businessman
Died on Monday January 19th 2026

January 19, 2026 6:40 pm

Leo Meller

Finnish Lutheran preacher
Died on Monday January 19th 2026

January 19, 2026 6:15 pm

Seppo Reijonen

Finnish Olympic ski jumper (1968)
Died on Thursday January 15th 2026

January 15, 2026 11:30 am

Pirkko Ikonen

Finnish politician
Died on Monday January 12th 2026

January 12, 2026 7:20 pm

Ritva Auvinen

Finnish opera singer
Died on Saturday January 3rd 2026

January 3, 2026 3:25 pm

Pate Mustajärvi

Finnish musician (Popeda)
Died on Friday December 26th 2025

December 26, 2025 1:30 pm

Taisto Tähkämaa

Finnish politician
Died on Sunday December 21st 2025

December 21, 2025 11:15 am

Henrik Tallberg Finnish Olympic sailor dead at age 83

Henrik Tallberg, a Finnish Olympic sailor,
died on December 19, 2025. Henrik Tallberg (3 July 1942 – 19 December 2025) was a Finnish sailor who competed in the 1964 Summer…

December 19, 2025 12:00 pm