Obituaries

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...

Oct 4, 2019

Mary Ann Verhel, 97, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2019 surrounded by family at Primrose Retirement Community of Duluth.  She was born to Catherine and Michael Garay in Bennett, Wisconsin on May 30, 1922.  Mary grew up on a farm in Bennett and moved to Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1940’s, where she worked for Eveready making batteries...

Oct 2, 2019

Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Aspoas, age 66, Duluth, died October 2, 2019 in Two Harbors.  She was born in Alexandria, VA on November 10, 1952 to James Sr. and Phyllis Aspoas.  Beth was a 1971 graduate of East High School and a 1975 graduate of the College of St. Scholastica.  She had worked several jobs including managing a store but...

Oct 1, 2019

Lorraine F. Jurek Youngbauer, 84, of Duluth passed away on Tuesday October 1, 2019 at Keystone Bluffs Assisted Living.  She was born in Duluth on July 1, 1935 to Bernard “Benny” and Violet Jurek.  Lorraine graduated from Duluth Denfeld High School Class of 1954.  She married Eugene “Gene” Youngbauer on July 16, 1955 in St. Clements Catholic Church.  Lorraine...

Sep 24, 2019

Naomi C. Hammer, 89, of Duluth, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospice with her family by her side.  She was born on March 26, 1930 in Duluth to George and Alverta Clancy.  Naomi was a 1948 graduate of Denfeld High School and married Ronald Hammer on March 17, 1950 in Duluth.  In her younger years,...

Sep 22, 2019

Vance Arthur Bushey Jr, 82, of Duluth, passed away Sunday, September 22, 2019 in his home. He closed his eyes with his family by his side and opened his eyes to an Amazing church service in Heaven. He was born on April 24, 1937 in Duluth to Vance Sr and Faith (Schuman) Bushey. Vance was a 1957 graduate of...

Aug 18, 2019

Laura Mae Jones, 87, of Duluth, MN passed away, peacefully with family by her side, on

August 18th, 2019. Laura was born on December 18th, 1931, in Duluth MN. She is the daughter of Jennie and Ruben Skoglund. She was married to Curtis Jones in December of 1952 and they raised their 6 children in Duluth, MN....

Aug 14, 2019

Rilynn Ramona Turner, age 2 months, 26 days, daughter of Nicklus and Lasarra Turner of Duluth died Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.  She was born in Minneapolis May 19, 2019. Rilynn touched many lives in her short time here with us on Earth. She was a fighter since day one with the attitude to match....