Luella Esterbrooks

Luella LaVerne "Lu" Esterbrooks, 86, of Gordon, WI, and formerly of Duluth, passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Essential Health St. Mary's Medical Center of complications from a stroke. She was born February 7, 1929 in Holyoke, Minn. to Cora and Loren VanGuilder. Lu worked for Marshall Wells where she met her husband Lloyd, whom she married on January 1, 1949 in Duluth. She was a homemaker, and also a home care provider for 23 years. Lu's last years were spent in Gordon, WI where she enjoyed the outdoors, her many flower gardens and feeding the birds. She was preceded in death by her parents; six siblings; her husband Lloyd on December 11, 1981; and her partner Al Clugston. Lu is survived by her daughter Linda (Chuck) Steen of Hermantown; her son Jim (Cheryl) Esterbrooks of Knife River; four grandchildren: Tracy Hansen of Hermantown, Kyle Naalsund of Duluth, Lisa (Frank) Jerks and Jon (Jen) Esterbrooks, both of Hermantown; step-grandchildren: Jenny Goutermont and Dustin (Tina) Goutermont, both of Silver Bay, Minn; great-grandchildren: John, Cole, Tate, Michael, Andrew, Will, Ava, and baby Carlson-Naalsund, due on February 9, 2016; step-great-grandchildren: Sophie, Tucker, Levi, Gordy and Brooklyn; many nieces and nephews; and her special friends Nann Eckman and Susie Levy. Lu's family extends a special thank you to the ICU staff at Essentia Health. A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday, December 16, 2015 from 10am until the 11am memorial service at Dougherty Funeral Home. Burial will be private. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second St., Duluth, 727-3555.