Obituaries

Oct 29, 2015

Louis James Marshall was born to James and Mary Marshall on July 4, 1922 in Duluth, MN and passed away peacefully at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Proctor, MN in the early morning hours of October 29th, 2015. He was a 1940 Denfeld graduate and later served in the US Army in World War II. He was assigned to...

Oct 29, 2015

Wesley S. Skrien , 88, of Duluth, died Thursday, October 29, 2015 in the Benedictine Health Center. Wesley was born near Ulen, MN on October 2, 1927. He graduated from Ulen High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy right after graduation. After serving in the Navy, he attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. Wesley came to...

Oct 28, 2015

Yvonne J. (LaFlamme) Harstad, 88, of West Duluth, died Wednesday, October 28, 2015 surrounded by her family at Diamond Willow in Proctor. She was born in Duluth on June 8, 1927 to George and Jenny LaFlamme. Following graduation from Proctor High School, Yvonne's first job was secretary at the Pentagon in Washington DC. She returned to Duluth and worked...

Oct 23, 2015

Roy C. Sundin, 94, Duluth, joined his loving wife of 67 years in Heaven on Friday Oct. 23, 2015 at Viewcrest Health Center.He was born in Brunswick, Minn., on March 28, 1921 to Olaf and Emma Sundin. Roy was an Army Air Forces Veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations as a heavy truck...

Oct 20, 2015

Harold Dean Puhl, Jr. age 78, of Duluth MN, died Tuesday October 20th surrounded in the loving arms of his family and friends. Born July 17th, 1937 in Duluth and was the son of Harold and Evelyn [Giese] Puhl.

Harold graduated from Morgan Park High School and boy did #27 have a love for football as he was...

Oct 17, 2015

Rev. James Louis Datko, OMI, 88, died in Duluth, on Saturday, October 17, 2015. He was born to Edward and Rose (Kasprzak) Datko of St. Paul, on Dec. 29, 1926. He studied to become a priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate at St. Henry's Preparatory High School in Belleville, Ill., and The DeMazenod Scholasticate in San Antonio,...

Oct 14, 2015

Omar John Ellefson, 91 years old, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at the Benedictine Health Center. Omar was born to John and Mary (Lee) Ellefson at home in Proctor, Minnesota. He attended school in Proctor and at the age of 18 he began working for the DM&IR Railway in Proctor. He worked as...

Oct 14, 2015

Joellyn "Jo" Gauthier, 89, Duluth, died October 14, 2015 at Essentia St. Mary's Duluth. She was born in St. Paul, MN to Crawford and Edna Kingsley. Jo married Charles Gauthier in Duluth on August 28, 1948. She was a homemaker who enjoyed raising her family. She also loved reading, crocheting and knitting. Jo was preceded in death by her...

Oct 13, 2015

Shirley B. Isabell, 94, of Duluth, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in Lighthouse at Cloquet. Shirley was born in Duluth on March 10, 1921 to Gustaf and Ruby (Elsesser) Gustafson. She was a graduate of Denfeld High School and attended Duluth Business College. She was a secretary for the Frasier Shipyard in Riverside and was a "lunch lady" at...

Oct 12, 2015

Mary Katharine "Kathy" Swanstrom, age 91, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 12, 2015 at Aftenro Home surrounded by her family. Kathy was born in Germantown, PA on September 3, 1924 to Walter and Isabel Hoover. She married Edward Swanstrom in March of 1956. Kathy retired from the Polinsky Rehabilitation Center as a medical secretary. She enjoyed...

Oct 9, 2015

Pearl Lucille Roux 92 of Duluth died October 9, 2015 at St Elligius Health Center. Pearl was born November 30, 1922 in Warren Mn. Pearl is survived by her son Stephen Roux of Superior Wi. Grandchildren Michelle (Shawn) Purcell of Superior, WI and Michael J. Roux of Duluth MN. Great grandchildren Morgan Charnley of Maple WI, Mark Purcell of...

Oct 6, 2015

Albert E. Stingley, 88, Duluth, died Oct. 6, 2015 at his home with his family at his side. He was born in Aitkin, Minn., to Eldo and Kathrine "Nellie" Stingley. Albert was a World War II Era Army veteran. He had worked as a Dry Cleaner for many years, first at Holzberg's Cleaners in Superior and then retiring from...

Oct 6, 2015

Magdalene "Riz" Fortier, went to be with the Lord and her beloved Kenny on Oct. 6, 2015. She was born Nov. 23. 1922 in Virginia, Minn. Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth; son, Tom; brothers, Ross Crooks and Jack (Dolly) Crooks. She is survived by grandsons, Joseph of Denver, Thomas of Minneapolis, Rick (Angela) of Morrison, Colo.;...

Oct 5, 2015

Basil D. Norton of Grand Avenue, died Monday, October 5, 2015 at Benedictine Health Center. Basil was born March 29, 1932, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Claude Clark and Julia Lucille (Kane) Norton. He spent most of his life in Duluth, Minnesota. Basil was a Korean War Veteran, serving from 1951 to 1955. He was honorably discharged from the...

Oct 2, 2015

Marjorie M. Plucinak, 89, of Duluth, died Friday, October 2, 2015 in Viewcrest Health Center. She was born on September 25, 1926 to Leonard and Celia (Zoltek) Johnson in Duluth. Marjorie was a 1944 graduate of Denfeld High School and in 1948, she married Joseph Plucinak at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Duluth. Marjorie worked for Zinsmaster...

Sep 28, 2015

Michael William Anderson, 69, Duluth, died Sept. 28, 2015, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer, with his loving wife by his side. He was born in Duluth on Dec. 4, 1945 to Leonard and Blanche Anderson. Mike was a 1963 graduate of Clover Valley High School and had attended UMD from 1963-1966. He was an Army...

Sep 25, 2015

Glen Leroy Nodgaard, 88, of Duluth, died peacefully at home Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, surrounded by his loving family following a short battle with cancer and a longer journey with dementia. Glen was born on a farm near Griswold, Iowa, to Danish immigrant parents, Jens and Edith Nodgaard, Oct. 28, 1926. He grew up in Atlantic, Iowa, during the...

Sep 24, 2015

Mark Howard Witherspoon, 68, Duluth, died unexpectedly September 24, 2015 at Essentia St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 30, 1947 to Howard and Amelia Witherspoon. He was a 1965 graduate of Spring Lake Park High School in Spring Lake Park, Minn. He was an Army Veteran, serving in Viet Nam in 1968...

Sep 24, 2015

John "Jack" Thomas Bates, 84, formerly of North Shore Drive and Gearhart St, died Thursday, September 24, 2015 in St. Luke's Hospice. Jack was born on August 22, 1931 to Leon and Isabelle "Topsy" (Ranum) Bates in Willmar, MN. Jack was a 1949 graduate of Willmar High School and earned his B. S. Degree in Business from Mankato State...

Sep 24, 2015

Robert "Bob" Christopher Bjorlin, 84, of Duluth, died Sept. 24, 2015 at United Hospital in St. Paul. He was born in Duluth on June 15, 1931 to Herbert and Anna Bjorlin. Bob was a 1951 graduate of Denfeld High School. As an accomplished "Garbologist", Bob co-owned and operated Reliable Garbage Service for many years, becoming well known for his...