Obituaries

Jack Sorenson

Jack Sorenson

Feb 21, 2016

Jack E. Sorenson, 90, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Edgewood Vista, surrounded by his loving family. Jack was born in Warren, MN on March 9, 1925 to Jens and Bessie Sorenson. Jack married Patricia Roark in 1945. Jack retired from Arrowhead Equipment in 1987. He was a member of American Legion Post 71...

Norma Eckenberg

Norma Eckenberg

Feb 20, 2016

Norma Jean (Brown) Eckenberg, 91, of Edgewood Vista, formerly of North 40th Ave West, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 20, 2016 in St. Luke's Hospice. Norma was born on August 23, 1924 to William and Bertha (Olson) Nelson in Duluth. She was a 1942 graduate of Denfeld High School and a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She had worked...

Shirley Tillman

Shirley Tillman

Feb 18, 2016

Shirley M. Tillman, 92, of Mounds View, MN, formerly of Duluth, passed away Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the Hennepin County Medical Center. She was born on September 4, 1923 in Duluth to Walfred and Hilda Swanson. Shirley was a 1941 graduate of Denfeld High School and worked for Minnesota Power and Light following high school. Shirley married Lloyd...

June Grimwood

June Grimwood

Feb 11, 2016

June L. Grimwood, 90, of Duluth, died Thursday, February 11, 2016 at her residence in Ecumen Lakeshore. June was born on May 20, 1925 to Eino and Gertrude Larson in Duluth. June was a graduate of Central High School and the Duluth Business University. She was a member of Lester Park United Methodist Church, the Naomi Circle, the Women's...

Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson

Feb 9, 2016

Richard Curtis Anderson, 87, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Benedictine Health Center. He was born on February 8, 1929 in Duluth, MN to Kurt and Catherine Anderson. He graduated from Cathedral Senior High School and shortly after served in the U.S. Air Force as a Radio Operator stationed in Adak, Alaska; South...

Robert Wheeler

Robert Wheeler

Feb 8, 2016

Robert William "Bob" Wheeler, 83, of Duluth, died on Feb. 8, 2016. He was born March 14, 1932 to Robert and Elizabeth (Bienusa) Wheeler. He had been employed by Coolerator, Dewitt-Seitz and Zalk Josephs, from which he retired in 1994. He was the Steelworkers Union president there. He later worked at K-Mart in West Duluth. He was an U.S....

Joan Hansen

Joan Hansen

Feb 7, 2016

Joan Linda "Joanie" Hansen, 69, of Marywood Assisted Living, died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 in Essentia Health, Duluth. She was born in Duluth on June 13, 1946 to John and Ruth (Halvorson) Archambault and was a lifelong resident here. Joanie was a graduate of Denfeld High School and St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as an LPN...

Robert Wiita

Robert Wiita

Feb 7, 2016

Robert "Bob" Roy Wiita, 79, of West Duluth, died peacefully Sunday, February 7, 2016 in the Solvay Hospice House. He was born on December 20, 1936 in Cloquet, MN. Bob was a graduate of Central High School. He married Diane Mattson on August 15, 1959 in Christ Lutheran Church, Duluth. He worked as a mechanical engineer for Duluth Engineering,...

Gladys Anderson

Gladys Anderson

Jan 27, 2016

Gladys Helen Anderson, 102, formerly of Duluth, died January 27, 2016 in Fridley, MN. She was born in Duluth on April 2, 1913 to Anton and Borgina Hanson and was a 1931 graduate of Denfeld High School. Gladys married Richard Anderson in Duluth in 1936. She had worked at Hanson Ace Hardware, Sears and Kelly Howe Thompson. Gladys enjoyed...

Dr. Robert Kemp

Dr. Robert Kemp

Jan 26, 2016

Dr. Robert H. Kemp, 92, of Scottsdale, Ariz., formerly of Seattle, Wash., and Superior, died Jan. 26, 2016 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Bobby was born Dec. 6, 1923 in Superior, at home at 2 St. Albans Road to Frederick Albert Kemp Sr. and Ida Hutchinson Kemp. Bob attended schools in Superior and graduated from Central High School. He was drafted...

Donald Saarela

Donald Saarela

Jan 25, 2016

Donald Edward Saarela joined his wife, Joyce, and their Savior in Heaven on January 25, 2016. He was born on February 23, 1929 to Matt and Jennie Saarela. Don's early years were spent in Eagle Lake Minnesota. Because the Finnish language was spoken exclusively at home, Don learned English from the other children at school. He often recalled the...

Margaret Wick

Margaret Wick

Jan 24, 2016

Margaret D. Wick, 97, of Duluth passed away Sunday, January 24th 2016 at Viewcrest Health Center. Margaret was born to Ernest and Ida Bodin in Duluth, May 27th 1918. She grew up in Duluth's West End/Lincoln Park neighborhood, attending Bryant Elementary, Lincoln Jr. and Denfeld High Schools, graduating in 1937. At Denfeld she was elected Girls Club President and...

Edward Simon

Edward Simon

Jan 13, 2016

Edward Gerald Simon of Duluth MN slipped away peacefully at home on January 13, 2016. He loved camping in the BWCA, dog sled races (especially the Iditarod), chess, reading American western history, astronomy. He loved the outdoors, forever planting trees, and activities with his grandchildren. He had a heart of gold and was there to help those in need...

Rodney Sutherland Sr

Rodney Sutherland Sr

Jan 12, 2016

Rodney "Buckshot"Sutherland Sr., age 58, Duluth, died January 12, 2016 at St. Luke's Hospice. He was born in Duluth on November 10, 1957 to Walter and Edna Sutherland. He had attended Denfeld High School and was a graduate of the Duluth Vocational Technical School's diesel mechanics program. Rodney had worked at the DTA for 30 years and was a...

Samuel Nevius

Samuel Nevius

Jan 3, 2016

Samuel Jon Nevius, 27 of Kihei, Hawaii passed away on January 3, 2016 in Duluth, MN. Celebration of Life for Sam will be held at Kamaole Beach III, Kihei on Sunday, January 17 at 10:00 am with the scattering of his ashes. Sam was born on Maui January 26, 1988. He grew up playing soccer, Little League baseball, in-line...

Brian Ling

Brian Ling

Dec 28, 2015

Brian G. Ling, age 46, Duluth, died December 28, 2015. He was born in Duluth on April 28, 1969 to Claudia Swader and Dale Skoglund. He had attended Duluth East and Unity High School. Brian was an Army Veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He was a professional chef and had worked for numerous restaurants. He is survived by his...

Richard Bodine

Richard Bodine

Dec 25, 2015

Richard Norman "Dick" Bodine, 71, died Friday, December 25, 2015 at Edgewood Vista. Dick was born in Duluth on January 25, 1944 to Norman and Eleanor (Palm) Bodine. He was a 1962 graduate of Denfeld High School then joined the 148th Fighter Group as a Guard member and full time employee. Dick also worked at the Red Carpet Bar...

Joanne Overom

Joanne Overom

Dec 21, 2015

Joanne Margaret Overom, 88, of Richfield, MN, died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2015. She was born on Aug. 5, 1927, in Duluth, MN, to Hugo and Margaret Hedeen. After graduating from high school in 1945, Joanne worked at the U.S. Steel Mill in Morgan Park. She married Leon Overom on Nov. 26, 1949, and they spent nearly 56 years...

Brian Respler

Brian Respler

Dec 19, 2015

Brian Jacob Respler, 37, of Duluth, died Saturday, December 19, 2015 as a result of a tragic car pedestrian accident. Brian was born in Staten Island, New York on October 24, 1978. He attended a technical school in New York and studied camera and film production. While in New York, Brian was involved with C-TV. Brian moved to Duluth...

Inez Olson

Inez Olson

Nov 29, 2015

Inez Elizabeth (Rugland) Olson, 92, Duluth, (formerly of Roseau, MN) died November 29, 2015 at St. Luke's Hospital. She is preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Anna Rugland, husband Lester Olson, daughter Gloria Peterson and brothers Gordon, Wilmer and Earl. Inez is survived by her children Gail (Jeff Knutson) Anderson, Mpls, Carol (Rick) Forsberg, Proctor, grandchildren Erik...