Margaret Agnes Yernatich

Margaret Agnes Yernatich, 88, of Duluth, passed away peacefully from cancer with her family by her side, on Friday, April 11, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Champlin, Minnesota. She was excited “for her trip” to Eternity where she was looking forward to meeting her loved ones.

She was born in Soudan, Minnesota on Holy Thursday, March 25, 1937, the daughter of John and Agnes (Skala) Tekautz.

Margaret grew up in Tower living above Skala’s Tavern with her cousins through junior high. She received her sacraments at St. Martin’s Catholic Church and attended the Tower-Soudan schools where she was active in Girl Scouts, band, orchestra, cheerleading, the Senior Choir, class plays, and the TA-SA-HA Newspaper.

She dated Jack Yernatich throughout high school, where they were the homecoming king and queen, graduating in the Class of 1955. After high school Jack and Margaret earned their barbering and cosmetology licenses. They were married on May 25, 1957, in Tower. She was employed at The Beauty Nook in Tower and became its owner/operator in 1977, when she moved the shop next to Jack’s Barber shop. They ran their businesses side-by-side and lived above their shops on Main Street until 2000 when they retired to Duluth.

Margaret attended all her family’s events and was their biggest fan! She was a Girl Scout leader, den mother, religion teacher, and hosted many homecoming floats being built in the family’s garage. She sewed cheerleading uniforms, warm-up pants for the basketball team and always decorated the shop’s windows for tournament games. She loved spending time with her family, whether going on car trips, to the State Fair, or to the cabin. She always cooked everyone’s favorites and made everything a party. Although the internet was not fast enough for her, she quickly became tech savvy and used technology to stay connected with her family. She loved her phone and iPad!

Margaret was proud of her Slovenian heritage and devote in her Catholic faith. She made the best potica and prayed “all the time” even for many she did not know. She was the queen of organizing and went full speed into any project. She knit a multitude of slippers, sweaters, and blankets, made quilts, painted an entire Christmas village of ceramic houses, co-chaired Tower-Soudan’s All School reunions, ran many Fourth of July parades, and kept all the flowers on main street watered in the summer. She was a member of the Tower Woman’s Club, Historical Society, Old Settlers, Slovenian Union of America, KSKJ Lodge, and Church Council. In retirement she continued to play the piano, make new friends, play cards, plan wine nights, and visit. No one ever left her place hungry. She especially loved cooking weekly meals for her “Duluth girls” and visiting with her great grandchildren. Margaret will be missed by all!

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents John and Agnes Tekautz, husband Jack (2009), son Matt (2021), nephew Bradley Yernatich, and in-laws Jerry and Kathy Yernatich and Dimitri Saretzky.

She is survived by her daughter Mary (Paul) Ravnikar of Champlin, and sons Dan (Crystal) Yernatich of Mountain Iron, Dave (Sandra) Yernatich of Plymouth, and daughter-in-law Yvonne Yernatich of Duluth; eight grandchildren, Jacquelyn (Tom) Smith, Josh (Sarah) Yernatich, Jessie Yernatich, Kelly (Austyn Lind) Yernatich, and Jack (Payton Melville) Yernatich, and Marisa (Jake) Williams, Megan Yernatich, and Joe (Sidney) Yernatich; fourteen great-grandchildren, Agnes, Anthony and Teresa Smith, Cole, Caden, Cale, Ava, Colin, Chase, and Cooper Yernatich, baby boy Lind to arrive in May, and Weston, Ella, and Beau Williams; brother John Tekautz of Tower; sister-in-law Marlene Saretzky of Springfield, Virginia; two nieces, three nephews and numerous cousins, godchildren and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John’s Church (1 W Chisholm Street, Duluth, MN) on Wednesday April 23, 2025, at 11AM, with visitation held one hour prior to the Mass. Interment will be at a later date at Lakeview Cemetery in Tower, MN, next to her husband Jack. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home. 600 E. 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.