All Obituaries

Donald Roger Gimpel Sr, 84 of Duluth, died Saturday, April 13, 2019 in Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Hospital. Don was born on January 13, 1935 in Duluth to John and Mary (Sink) Gimpel. Don was a 1955 graduate of Denfeld High School and married his high school sweetheart, Peggy L. Olson on January 28, 1956 in Duluth. Don worked as a longshoreman, Zenith Dredge and retired as a deckhand for Great Lakes Towing. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the International...

  Cindy (Cynthia) Lynn Anderson, 69, of Twig, MN took the hand of God and left this life on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Bethesda Hospital, St. Paul.  She was with her family as she lost the battle against influenza, pneumonia and multiple other lung infections, that was waged in her transplanted lungs.  She fought courageously to enjoy the life she had after having a lung transplant on August 7, 2013.  Cindy was born on October 10, 1949, the only child of Fred and Ruth...

Richard R. “Dick” Seseman, 92, of Piedmont Heights, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the Viewcrest Health Center. Dick was born in Duluth on March 23, 1927 and attended Denfeld High School, leaving during his senior year to join the US Navy.  While at Denfeld, Dick participated in sports, including football where he was known as “crazy legs”. Dick was a US Navy veteran serving in World War II and the Korean War. He married Dolores Haugseth in...

Sasha Marie Olsen, 26, also known by many as Gary Olsen of Superior, WI died Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Essentia Health St. Mary's following an ATV accident. Sasha was born on January 28, 1993 in Duluth to Linda Gimpel-Olsen (Paul) and Gary Olsen. Sasha grew up in Duluth and Superior. Sasha was a free spirit, people pleaser, passionate about the people in her life including her music and outdoor activities. Fishing, dirt bike riding and camping were very special times with her dad. She...

Kermit Charles "Koke" Emberg, 90, of Midway Township, gently passed away, at peace on Thursday, March 28, 2019 in his home. Koke was born in Proctor, MN on July 21, 1928 to Clifford, Sr. and Mabel Helmer Emberg. He graduated from Proctor High School, class of 1946. He was a U.S. Marine from 1951 to 1953, a veteran of the Korean War. He married Patricia Ann Benn in Arlington, VA on April 10, 1954. He owned a local gas station and later worked various area jobs. He was self-employed...

James L. “Skip” Michael, 69 of Duluth died unexpectedly, Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in his home.  He was born January 12, 1950 in Rogers City, Michigan to James and Patricia Michael.  He moved to Duluth as a child and graduated from in 1968 from  Duluth Denfeld.  He went on to attend VoTec and UMD. Skip served in the US Army.  Skip was a Signal Tech for the City of Duluth, retiring in 2009. He enjoyed playing the guitar, especially teaching and playing...

Nellie Mary Maki, 97, of Duluth, formerly of Hibbing for over 50 years, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019. Nellie was born March 28, 1921 to Rose and Joseph Valentine. She married Lee Fawcett in 1940 and Roy Maki in 1979. Nellie was so special to so many of us.  She was the kindest, sweetest, most generous sole around.  She did everything she could for everyone.  She was amazingly beautiful inside and out.  She enjoyed spending time with family including her children and...

Carolyn Ann (Wallstrom) Mendesh died peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2019. A lifelong resident of Duluth, she was born in Bay View Heights to Martha and Albert Wallstrom. She and her sister Grace grew up in the loving family of Berger and Augusta Taraldsen alongside cousins Myrtle, Dorothy, Stanley, Ethel, John, and Jeanne.  In 1956 she married the love of her life, John Mendesh.  Together they raised four children, and lovingly participated in the lives of their grandchildren and...

Carrie Ann Donnahue, 86, died Thursday, March 21, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Duluth on February 17, 1933 to Ethel and George Parr.  She was a graduate of Denfeld High School. Carrie married John Donnahue on a snowy December 2, 1950 at St. Clements Catholic Church, Duluth. Carrie was a loving wife and mother who gave birth to their first child while her husband Jack served in the Army during the Korea Conflict. In the years that followed, this quiet...

Phyllis Arlene (Wittich) DeRocher, 95, Duluth, died Saturday, March 9, 2019 in Diamond Willow, Proctor. She was born in Duluth on February 15, 1924 to Charles and Minnie (Ruhnke) Wittich. Phyllis was a 1942 graduate of Denfeld High School and received her RN degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing. She married Robert DeRocher in Duluth on September 20, 1952. Phyllis was a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital prior to raising her family. She also worked at the West Duluth...