In 1937, the family came to the United States, settling in Vancouver. Alpo married Bobbie Ketola in 1945. After service in the US Navy during WWII, he attended the University of Washington graduating with a degree in civil engineering. He worked as a designing engineer and project manager with Earl and Wright, Yuba Erectors and Kaiser Steel in California before moving to Lake Oswego with his wife and family in 1972 to take over as project manager of the Fremont Bridge.

In 1973, he founded Tokola Corporation which handled major engineering projects from its offices in Portland, San Francisco and London until the mid-1990s. Major projects during his engineering career include: 19 bridges (Interstate, Benicia-Martinez, Glen Canyon, San Pedro-Terminal Island), 10 buildings (Bank of America Headquarters, Transamerica Pyramid, Seattle Convention Center), and 17 offshore oil platforms (Alaska, California, North Sea). In 1976, Alpo and Tokola Corporation began building apartments complexes in the Portland Area. These became the focus of his work and under his leadership, 12 projects were completed.

In his later years, Alpo pursued an interest in history that grew from his travel experiences, reading extensively and compiling a 400-year family genealogy. He maintained close ties with Finland and was Board of Director Emeritus for Finlandia University in Michigan. Alpo’s family was the center of his life, his devotion evident in the great amount of time he spent with us and the deep love he showed us all. This abundant love is returned by four generations.

He is survived by Bobbie Tokola, his wife of 67 years; daughters, Susan Tokola-Avison, Nancy Allen (Mark), Anna-Lisa Kanick (George), Maila Davenport (John); sisters, Ellen Dusa and Liisa Holma; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Viewing Vigil will be held at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home, 0319 SW Taylors Ferry Road, Portland, OR 97216, Thursday, March 21, 5-8 p.m. Funeral will be held at Christ Church Lake Oswego, 1060 Chandler Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, Friiday, March 22, at 2 p.m.
Donations may be made to Prostate Cancer Research Program/Dr. Thomasz Beer (OHSU Foundation 1121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 100 Portland OR 97205).