Obituaries

May 25, 2020

Linda May (Carlson) Eastman, age 68, of Hermantown MN passed away unexpectedly on May 25, 2020 in her home. Linda was born April 14, 1952 in Minneapolis MN. She was a beloved teacher in the Duluth School District until her retirement in 2008. Linda lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; chatting with family & friends, traveling, reading,...

May 25, 2020

James "Jim" Francis Ramsay, 88, of Duluth, passed away peacefully in his home on May 25, 2020. Jim was born in Sault St. Marie, MI on November 20, 1931 to Alexander and Mabel Ramsay. Jim graduated from Cathedral High School and St. John’s University. Jim and Shirley resided in Savage, MN and Eau Claire, WI before returning to Duluth...

May 22, 2020

Daniel Holte, 88, of Duluth, died Friday, May 22, 2020 at the Beehive Homes Assisted Living in Duluth. Dan was born on April 5, 1932 in Grygla, MN to Nels and Caroline (Ramsey) Holte. He was a 1949 graduate of Central High School and served in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954. During his last year of service,...

May 20, 2020

Billy John Brackett, 87, of Duluth, died Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at the Golden Oaks Assisted Living Community in Proctor. Billy surprised everyone when he was born into the world prematurely on September 16, 1932 in Pence, WI to John and Alice (Kamppi) Brackett. Although he only weighed a couple pounds, he was a fighter and survived against all...

May 6, 2020

James “Jim” C. Barker, 71, of Duluth, died Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Jim was born November 17, 1948 in Duluth to Lydia (Whiteside) and Jay Barker. He graduated from Denfeld High School. He was one of the first males accepted into the College of Saint Scholastica, then graduated from UMD with a Bachelor’s Degree in history, civics, and geography....

Apr 21, 2020

Donna Rae Wipson, 73, of Duluth, went home to her Savior on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at Edgewood Caring Edge in Hermantown.  Donna was born Donna Rae Ware on September 16, 1946 in Superior, Wisconsin and grew up in Duluth Minnesota, graduating from Duluth Central High School.  After marriage, she moved to California where she lived for 25 years. ...

Apr 20, 2020

Larry Johnson, 77, of Duluth, passed away peacefully at Solvay Hospice House on Monday, April 20, 2020 with his family by his side. He was born March 15, 1943 in Duluth to Lorrayne (Olson) and John Johnson. Larry graduated from Denfeld High School in 1961. He went on to graduate from UMD with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education,...

Apr 20, 2020

Joan Carol Bates, 83, formerly of North Shore Drive and Gearhart Street, died Monday, April 20, 2020 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living-Lester Park. Joan was born on September 29, 1936 in Waterloo, Iowa to Wilder and Martha O’Hara.  Following high school, she married John “Jack” Bates in Mason City, Iowa. Together they owned and operated the Wonderland Resort on...

Apr 15, 2020

Karlyne Marie Holm, of Hermantown passed away on Tuesday December 22, 2020. She was born on March 31, 1941 to Maurice and Lillian Rudolph.

Karlyne was a long-time employee of Zalk Josephs and retired from UMD. Karlyne’s hobbies included playing cribbage, knitting, reading, camping with the (Kamping nuts) crowd and spending time with family.

She is preceded in death by...

Apr 13, 2020

Karen L. Nyberg, age 77, of Duluth, died peacefully Monday, April 13, 2020 at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s. Karen was born on January 15, 1943 in Pine City, MN to Robert and Pearl Buirge. She was a 1961 graduate of Denfeld High School and married Dennis Nyberg on October 5, 1968 in Duluth.  Karen was an active member of the...

Apr 5, 2020

Janice D. Smith, 74, of Duluth, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday April 5, 2020. Janice was born in Duluth on May 28, 1945 to William Donald and Helen Ethel (Ricketts) Grimm. In the 1960’s, Janice attended The College of St. Scholastica Nurse’s Aide Course. She later worked for US Army Accounting, Valley Distributing, and she...

Mar 29, 2020

Carrie Ann Gehlen, 39, of Duluth, passed away on March 29, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  She was born on November 4, 1980 in Oelwein, Iowa to Chuck and Gloria Gehlen.   Carrie graduated with honors from Duluth Denfeld.  She was a violinist, playing throughout her school years.  Her love of violin playing was shared by her daughter, Abby.  They...

Mar 28, 2020

Allen Michael Wever, 27, Duluth, died Saturday, March 28, 2020 in Fairview University Hospital from complications due to the H1N1 virus. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Mar 23, 2020

Jamie Joseph Tuura, 60, of Cloquet, died Monday, March 23, 2020 at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis. Jamie was born May 16, 1959 in Cloquet, MN to the late Arabelle Gilchrist and Jack Tuura.  Jamie graduated from Cloquet High School in 1977 where he was an active member of the Drama Club and Footfall Team. He graduated on the...

Mar 20, 2020

Irene M. Swallow, 103 of Duluth passed away peacefully on March 20, 2020 at North Shore Estates in Duluth, MN.  She was born in Duluth, MN on February 27, 1917 to Walter and Margaret M. Novack (Janalik).  Irene attended primary school at St. Peter & Paul in the West End of Duluth and graduated from Stanbrook Hall (St. Scholastica)...

Mar 18, 2020

Ronald J. Tomshack, 68, of Duluth, passed away peacefully after a brief battle with cancer, Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

He was born in Duluth to Cecil and Miriam, on February 22, 1952.

He loved his plants and graduated from technical school in horticulture.

He worked in the print shop for many years for...

Mar 9, 2020

Kathleen L. Skarman, 76, of Duluth, died Monday, March 9, 2020 at Barnes Care in Esko, MN. Kathy was born on August 6, 1943 in Duluth to Leonard and Vernice Kossett. Kathy was a graduate of Hermantown High School and in her younger years, she worked for Bagley’s and later was a Real Estate Agent. Kathy enjoyed traveling, gardening...

Mar 8, 2020

Elaine M. Opack, 92, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Edgewood Memory Care in Hermantown. Elaine was born in Duluth on April 13, 1927 to Arvid and Hilma Meyers. She was a graduate of Denfeld High School and Duluth Business University. Elaine married her one and only John Opack on April 3, 1948. They built a home...

Mar 4, 2020

Linda “Ma” Kay Wilander, 76, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 with family by her side. Linda was born January 20, 1944 in Rice Lake, WI to Arnold and Avis (Geer) Mickelson. She was raised in Ridgeland, WI and attended Colfax High School and Barron High Schools. She moved to the Twin Cities and worked...

Feb 29, 2020

Frank Robert Oman (69) of Duluth, passed away surrounded by family, on February 29, 2020. Frank was born on April 26, 1950 to Earl and Dorothy (Olson) Oman. Frank grew up in Proctor, MN and graduated from Proctor High School in 1968. He met the love of his life, Peg (Pauley) Oman while standing in line at Wards Auto...