All Obituaries

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.   While in high school, Sue worked as a clerk at the Greyhound bus depot in Virginia. Suzanne began her...

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 the Navy from 1967-1973.  Once he got out of the service, he began working at the U.S. Steel Plant here in Duluth.  He...

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 in St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. They were married for 45 years before his death in 1989. She was a secretary for Garon Knitting Mills for 29 years, retiring in 1984. She...

  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 was born in Minneapolis, MN on September 2, 1960, to Norbert and Helen Sirba.  He attended Nativity of Mary Grade School in Bloomington,...

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 of the Duluth School District, retiring in 2016. Through the years, she touched the lives of her students with her love and concern for each and...

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 1946. While attending college, he spent two enjoyable summers driving sight-seeing buses in Glacier National Park. In 1950 he graduated from Hamline...

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 veteran of World War II and served in the Medical Corps in Europe. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, the West Duluth American Legion Post...

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 on August 9, 1952 in Duluth. Dick worked for Northern Pacific/Burlington Northern Railroad as a car inspector, retiring in 1986. He was a member of...

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 of the hill.  Debra was a member of First Lutheran Church.  She enjoyed bowling, crafting, knitting, and time spent with her family, especially...

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 Administrative Office Assistant, retiring in 1984. In her younger years, she worked for Peterson-Anderson Florist and North Shore...