Kaarlo A. Rintala, Sr.

Kaarlo A. Rintala Sr., 86, passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at home with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of the late Lucille B. Rintala who recently passed on Jan. 18, 2024. Married for 66 years, inseparable in life and now in death, theirs was a love story for the ages.

Formerly of Grafton, he was an Upton resident for 52 years.

Kaarlo was the son of the late Arvo and Aune (Matson) Rintala and was raised and educated in Worcester. He attended Clark University and Suomi College in Michigan. He was employed at General Motors in Framingham for 35 years prior to his retirement.

Kaarlo was a proud Finnish American who loved ice cream, music, his pool and his many pets.  His favorite pastimes included fishing with his son, chopping wood for his stove and going to the track. He was a longtime harness racing enthusiast, owner and was still caring for horses well into his 80s.

He is survived by three children, Kaarlo Rintala, Jr., and his wife, Cheryl, of Bellingham, Cheryl Rayner and her husband, Russ, of Worcester and Karla Barrows and her husband, Glenn, of Upton; one sister, Millie Crandall, of Boylston; five grandchildren, Christina, Sara, Stacy, Elina and Suzie and five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Julia, Aeva, Chase and Cody.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, February 17th from 1 to 3 P.M. at the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, 45 Main St., Upton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org