Obituaries

Jan 1, 2020

Richard D Wilson, 85, died January 1, 2020, in Princeville-by-the-Sea care home in Westminster, California.  Richard was born in Duluth, Minnesota, to Ludwig Wilson and Ethel (Hedlund) Wilson on July 27, 1934.  He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1952 and the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Degree in Chemistry and Math in 1957. Richard then taught Chemistry and...

Dec 27, 2019

Dawn B. Kolquist passed away peacefully on December 27, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.  Dawn was born on January 30, 1922 in Duluth, Minnesota to Roy and Eva Tourville. Dawn graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1940 and the Duluth School of Beauty the following year.  She styled hair for many friends and family members...

Dec 24, 2019

Judith “Judy” Ann Johnson, 74, of Duluth, died Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Judy was born in Texas on March 29, 1945 to Roy and Doris Anderson. Judy married Ronald Johnson on August 28, 1972. Ron passed away on their anniversary in 2010. Judy loved going to Walmart, shopping and going out to eat. She loved...

Dec 21, 2019

Jane Ellen Sommerfeld (née Ulrich), 93, of Duluth, entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Jane was born August 26, 1926 to Sarah Louise (Cowper) and Robert Stanley Ulrich in Detroit, Michigan. Her father died when she was 8 months old, several months before the birth of her brother. The children were sent to the family farm...

Dec 20, 2019

Gerald “Jerry” Bill Postal, 84, of Duluth, died Friday, December 20, 2019 at his residence. Jerry was born in Duluth on January 25, 1935 to William and Florence (Panfil) Postal. Jerry was a graduate of Denfeld High School and served in the Army National Guard. He was a member of the former St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and...

Dec 12, 2019

Suzanne Bane Zallar passed away on December 12 at Bayshore Residence and Rehabilitation Center after a long and courageous battle with Frontotemporal Dementia.

Suzanne was born on September 30, 1950 to Betty Jean and Payton Bane in Virginia, Minnesota. She attended Virginia High School and received her English Education degree from the University of Minnesota- Duluth.

Dec 8, 2019

Robert Allen Booth, 72 of Duluth, died Sunday, December 8, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Bob was born in Crosby, MN to Elde and Florence Booth.  He was a long time Duluth resident and graduated from Duluth Denfeld.  Bob married Colleen (Slowinski) Booth June 13, 1970.  They would have been married 50 years come June 2020.  Robert was in...

Dec 3, 2019

Nathalie Ann Whalen, 97, of Duluth, died Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the North Shore Estates. Nathalie was born in Monico, WI on September 28, 1922 to Byron and Ann (Lagon) Meagher. She was a Duluth resident most of her life and was a graduate of Morgan Park High School. She married Emmet W. Whalen on June 12, 1944...

Dec 1, 2019

Bishop Paul D. Sirba:

Bishop Paul David Sirba, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, MN, beloved shepherd of the people of the Diocese of Duluth, dear son, brother, uncle and great-uncle died of apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Proctor, MN on Sunday morning, December 1, 2019, the First Sunday of Advent.  Bishop Sirba...

Nov 29, 2019

Michele LeFaive Johnson, 68, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital. She was born on February 2, 1951, the second of seven children born to Raymond and Stephanie LeFaive, and was a lifelong Duluth resident. She was a 1969 graduate of Denfeld High School and was a 45 year employee...

Nov 29, 2019

Gordon D. Swenson, 93, died Nov. 29, at the Benedictine Living Community in Duluth. He was born in Fargo, ND, to Elizabeth and Albert Swenson. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to St. Paul, MN, where he spent his formative years. In 1944, Gordon graduated from Wilson High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served until...

Nov 22, 2019

Rolland E. “Rollie” Royer, 95, of Duluth, died Friday, November 22, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was born in Duluth on July 27, 1924 to Gaudias and Laura (Marteneau) Royer. Rollie married Marcella H. Hansen on August 13, 1948 in Duluth. He worked for the City of Duluth Water and Gas Department, retiring in 1982. He was a...

Nov 18, 2019

Richard N. "Dick" Koglin, 92, of Duluth, passed away Monday, November 18, 2019 at the Solvay Hospice House surrounded by family. Dick was born in Duluth on September 27, 1927 to Paul and Hope Koglin. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1945 and served in the Navy during World War II. Following his service, he married Donna Bolton...

Nov 6, 2019

Debra Kay Anderson, 65, of Duluth, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday November 6, 2019.  She was born in Duluth on September 25, 1954 to Roger and Betty Anderson.  Debra graduated from Duluth Central High School Class of 1973.  She had worked as a nanny and her last job was at Wendy’s on top...

Nov 4, 2019

Lorraine L. Giernett, 94, of Duluth, died Monday, November 4, 2019 in Essentia Health surrounded by family. She was born on May 12, 1925 in Duluth to Henry and Angeline LaMourea. Lorraine was a graduate of Central High School. She married Lee Giernett and together they had five children. Lorraine worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as an...

Oct 26, 2019

Deborah Anne "Debi" McLeod, 67, of Proctor, died peacefully Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Solvay Hospice House, surrounded by those who loved her. She was born on Sept. 8, 1952 in Duluth to Dr. Franklin H. and Anne (Portegys) Dickson. Her father, Dr. Dickson was a long time family physician in Proctor. Debi was a lifelong Proctor resident. She was...

Oct 21, 2019

Betty Ann Linnell, 86, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2019 surrounded by her family. She was born on July 3, 1933 in Duluth to Ray and Valerie Vondane. Betty graduated from Denfeld High School. She married her sweetheart, Larry Linnell on October 17, 1953 in St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Together they raised three...

Oct 20, 2019

Eli Kokotovich, 95, passed away on Oct 20, 2019, at Primrose Retirement Community of Duluth.  Eli was born on Jan 10, 1924, in Hibbing, MN, to Jovo and Milosova (Stuckich) Kokotovich.He was a graduate of Hibbing High School, class of 1941. He attended Junior College in Hibbing and then enlisted to serve in the army in World War II....

Oct 11, 2019

Joan Elizabeth Ide, 61, of Hermantown, died Friday, October 11, 2019 at Essentia Health with family by her side. She was born on September 27, 1958 in Duluth to George and Elvira Kehoe. She was a graduate of Denfeld High School and worked as a financial customer service representative for Essentia Health. Joan married Mark Ide in Las Vegas...

Oct 6, 2019

Ruby Elizabeth (Anderson) Clemetsen, 99, died on Sunday, October 6, 2019 at the Franciscan Health Center. She was born January 1, 1920 in Duluth to Emil and Anna Anderson. Ruby graduated from Denfeld High School in 1937 and worked as an insurance secretary until marrying Marwood Clemetsen in 1942 in Green Bay. They moved to Marquette where their first...