Obituaries

Oct 15, 2016

Ralph C. Ehresman, 76, formerly of Gary, Indiana, died unexpectantly Saturday, October 15, 2016. Ralph was born on September 24, 1940 in Gary, Indiana to Herbert and Grace Ehresman. Ralph was a 1958 graduate of Gary Edison School Brunswick and married his high school sweetheart, Margie Zugel on August 8, 1959 in Gary, Indiana. Ralph enrolled in the IBEW...

Oct 13, 2016

George "Skip" Graves Kirk, 75, of Duluth, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at Solvay Hospice House. He was born March 15, 1941 in Duluth, Minn. to Josephine (Facchin) and Harold Kirk. He was a Vietnam Era Veteran and worked as a longshoreman and later for Clyde Iron and DEMCO. Skip...

Oct 12, 2016

Florence M. (Puhl) McDonell, 91, of Duluth, passed away in her sleep on Oct. 12, 2016 in Golden Oaks Assisted Living Facility. Florence was born May 5, 1925 in Haugen, Wis., to Louis and Ameila (Vinopal) Puhl. She was the youngest of eight children. During her childhood and early teen years Flo spent much of her time with her...

Oct 11, 2016

Louise M McCaffrey, of Duluth, died Tuesday October 11, 2016, with family by her side. She was born June 10, 1924 to William " Frank" and Mary Kaptonak in Superior WI. Louise graduated from Central High School in Superior. She married Robert Walkowiak in 1953 until his passing in 1972. Later in life Louise married Albert McCaffrey in 1980....

Sep 5, 2016

Richard Lee "Dick" Hanson, Sr., 71, of Duluth, MN and Weslaco, TX, died unexpectedly September 5, 2016 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was born in Yakima, WA on November 26, 1944 to Oscar "Sam" and Lorraine Hanson. Dick grew up on Pike Lake and was a 1962 graduate of Proctor High School. He married Theresa "Terry" in Carrington, ND,...

Aug 31, 2016

Bernice Margaret Strand Moore, 103, of Miller Hill Manor and Edgewood Vista, died Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Viewcrest Health Center. She was born in Duluth on May 8, 1913, daughter of Anton and Mathilda Strand. She was a graduate of Denfeld High School in 1931 and the Young & Hursh Business College. Bernice was an active member of...

Aug 29, 2016

Martin Sammy Anderson, 85, of 97th Ave West, died Monday, August 29, 2016 in his home. Martin was born on August 7, 1931 in Duluth to Martin and Sally (Soukkaln) Anderson. Martin was a 1949 graduate of Denfeld High School and served in the US Army during the Korean War. He worked for the US Steel Plant, Diamond Tool...

Aug 27, 2016

RAYMOND JAMES BREOLE Age 94 of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 27, 2016 with his daughter Ilona at his bedside at St. Luke's Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Jennie Breole, wife, Lila Breole and sister Marion Carlson. Survivors include his daughter, Ilona (Duane) Kerin of Edina, MN, grandchildren Troy (Lynne) Kerin,...

Aug 27, 2016

RAYMOND JAMES BREOLE Age 94 of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 27, 2016 with his daughter Ilona at his bedside at St. Luke's Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Jennie Breole, wife, Lila Breole and sister Marion Carlson. Survivors include his daughter, Ilona (Duane) Kerin of Edina, MN, grandchildren Troy (Lynne) Kerin,...

Aug 22, 2016

Willard "Willy" Carlson, 82, Duluth, died peacefully Aug. 22, 2016 at his home. He was born in Red Eye Township, Minn., on Dec. 31, 1933 to Emil and Jennie Carlson. He was a graduate of Denfeld High School. Willy married Beverly Jennison in Duluth and just celebrated 60 years of marriage. He was a dedicated Superwood-Georgia Pacific employee retiring...

Aug 16, 2016

Gudrun E. "Gudie" Johnson, 92, of Duluth, passed away Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. Gudrun was born August 27, 1923 and was raised and lived in West Duluth. Gudrun was a 1942 graduate of Denfeld High School. She worked for Decker Art and Frame Shop and AAA Minnesota. After retirement from AAA, she...

Aug 14, 2016

Gregory Hugh Effinger, 64, of Duluth passed away at his home on Sunday Aug. 14, 2016. He was born Dec. 6, 1951, in Duluth to Lawrence and Angeline Effinger the sixth of seven rowdy children. He grew up in Duluth in the West End. He drove truck for many years among other things, and was able to see a...

Aug 13, 2016

James "Jim" Clifford Foucault, 89, of Edgewood Vista, formerly of Hagberg St, passed away peacefully Saturday, August 13, 2016 in the Solvay Hospice House surrounded by his family. Jim was born on January 31, 1927 in Bemidji to Clarence and Mary (Shields) Foucault. Jim attended Denfeld High School and served in the US Navy during World War II. Upon...

Aug 5, 2016

Donald Robert Bourdeau, 86, of Coleman St., died Friday, August 5, 2016 at his residence with his family by his side. Don was born on May 7, 1930 in Duluth to Chester and Martha (Hendrickson) Bourdeau. He grew up on "Raleigh Street" and was a 1948 graduate of Denfeld High School where he played hockey and baseball. He attended...

Jul 30, 2016

Jackie D. (Beaudin) Morris, 73, of Duluth, died due to heart complications with family by her side, Saturday July 30, 2016 in St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, MN. She was born Dec. 29, 1942 to Emmit and Betty (Yernberg) Beaudin in Duluth, MN. Jackie was a 1960 graduate of Denfeld High School and later in life she continued her...

Jul 28, 2016

Brian J. "Rozi" Mrozik, 44, of Esko, passed away in his sleep on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Brian was born on February 28, 1972 in Duluth to Charlene (Tondryk) and James Mrozik. Brian was a 1990 graduate of Proctor High School and attended Itasca Community College. He married Donna Colletta on June 9, 2001 in Superior and currently works...

Jul 20, 2016

Betty Lois (Stenback) Opien, 92, formally of Duluth, passed away peacefully on July 20th, 2016, in Maplewood, Minnesota surrounded by her family. Born in Duluth in 1924, "Betts" as her brothers sometimes called her, was known for her great kindness and helpfulness to others. Betty graduated from Denfeld High School in 1942, and worked at various jobs during and...

Jul 5, 2016

Cheryl Lobermeier, age 59, Duluth, died peacefully on July 5th, 2016 at Golden Oaks Assisted Living after a several year battle with Breast Cancer and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cheryl was born in Hibbing, Minnesota to Oliver and Dorothy Mackley on August 28th, 1956. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy (Kampa) Mackley in 1967; brother, Richard "Dick" Mackley...

Jun 24, 2016

Wyatt Jacob Alan Smith passed suddenly June 24, 2016 while working out of town, at age 22.

Wyatt graduated from Superior High School in 2013. He was currently working for XTreem Environmental Services in Galesburg, Il.

Wyatt enjoyed playing guitar, loved being outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping. Most of all he loved spending time with family and...

Jun 21, 2016

John J. (Bud) Thorp, formerly of Duluth, passed away peacefully at his home in Plymouth, Minnesota on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. He was born on December 18, 1926 to J. Clarence and Katherine (Smith) Thorp at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. At eleven years old he began working in the family grocery business, J. J. Thorp and Company. John...