Obituaries

Aug 29, 2021

Shirley Theresa May, 81 of Duluth, passed away on Sunday August 29, 2021, at the Franciscan Health Center.  She was born in Minneapolis, MN on July 8, 1940, to Louis and Ida Dupont.  Shirley was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Eva McNeil...

Aug 28, 2021

Mary F. Joppa, age 44, of Duluth, passed away peacefully Saturday, August 28, 2021 at St. Luke's Hospital. Mary was born in Robbinsdale to Roger and Connie (King) Joppa on October 12, 1976. She was a bright soul, loved life, and was a friend to everyone who met her. Mary had a gift of remembering every detail and birthday....

Aug 27, 2021

Matthew John Yernatich, 62, of Duluth passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, August 27, 2021, three years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Matt was born on December 23, 1958, the oldest child of Jack and Margaret Yernatich of Tower, Minnesota.

Matt graduated from Tower Soudan High School and...

Aug 26, 2021

William Lee “Bill” Johnson, 86, of Duluth, passed away peacefully in his home August 26, 2021 surrounded by family. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota to Wilfred and Linnea Johnson on March 5, 1935. He attended Proctor High School where he played football and basketball. He graduated in 1953. After high school, he put himself through college at the...

Aug 26, 2021

Malcolm David Gundelach, 73, of Cottonwood,Arizona, died Thursday, August 26, 2021 in his home. He was born January 4, 1948 to Zelma Namotia (Lewis) Gundelach and James Albert Gundelach.     He served in the US Army during the Vietnam war and received a Purple Heart.    In 1997 he married his best friend and soul mate Cheryl Ann Swor. He...

Aug 26, 2021

Eugene “Gene Patrick Sisto, 83 of Hermantown, died Thursday, Aug. 26th at St. Luke’s after a short illness with his family by his side.  Gene was born Dec. 12, 1937, in Duluth to Patrick and Mary (Colalillo) Sisto.  He graduated from Denfeld High School and attended UMD and the FBI Academy.  He met, Laurie Erlander and they were married...

Aug 25, 2021

Mary Kathyrn Schinn, of Phoenix, AZ, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many, passed away peacefully, after a rapid decline in health, on August 25, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-nine years, Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Schinn and her son, Lawrence Michael Schinn.

She will be greatly missed by her daughter, Claudia Schinn...

Aug 24, 2021

Maryanne (Schmelitz) Evensen, age 95, passed away on August 24, 2021 after a long battle with dementia.

Maryanne worked at UMD in various departments for 20 years, retiring from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research in 1989. She found her greatest joy as a homemaker, wife, mom and grandma and was active in many organizations including: ...

Aug 23, 2021

Linda Kay Summer, 74, of Duluth, died Monday, August 23, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  She was born July 24, 1947 in Hibbing to Paul S. and Edna L. (Harvey) Summer.  Linda was a U.S. Army veteran medic.  Following the service she was employed at Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center in Duluth for30 years.  Linda was a longtime...

Aug 23, 2021

Robert John Roper, age 61, of Duluth, died Monday, August 23, 2021 at Solvay Hospice House.  He was born April 10, 1960 in Duluth to John Thomas and Jacquelin (Raymond) Roper.  Bob was a 1978 graduate of Wrenshall High School.   He married Maggie Bushy on August 18, 1990 in Duluth.

Bob was adored and loved by all...

Aug 21, 2021

Barbara Jane LeBeau Coffin, 90, of Duluth, passed away surrounded by her family on August 21, 2021. She was born to John Earl LeBeau and Leona Belle Heller LeBeau at St. Mary’s Hospital in April, 1931 and resided in Duluth most of her life. She attended Ensign Elementary School, St. Clements Jr. High, Stanbrook Hall for high school and...

Aug 20, 2021

Yvonne Phyllis Williams, 89, passed away Friday, August 20, 2021.  Vonnie was born July 28, 1932 to Art and Hazel Stensrud in New Richland, MN.  She was previously employed at Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis and retired from Miller Dwan Hospital in Duluth.  She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and most recently her great-grandchild.  She was gregarious, outgoing...

Aug 16, 2021

Elizabeth “Bette” Ann (Priley) Swanson, 89 formerly of Park Point, died Monday, Aug. 16th at Essentia Miller Dwan with her family by her side.  Bette was born Feb. 29, 1932, in Duluth to John and Ida Priley.  Bette always enjoyed the fact that she was a leap year baby and having a large celebration every four years.  She was...

Aug 16, 2021

Robert Paul Anderson, 58, of Duluth, died on Monday August 16, 2021, unexpectedly.  He was born in Duluth on December 30, 1962, to Harold and Violet Anderson.  Bob had driven cab for Yellow Taxi and was trained in autobody repair.  He enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, working on vehicles and he loved being a grandpa taking care of his grandchildren, and...

Aug 15, 2021

Robert John “Bob” Klein Jr., 79 of Duluth, passed away on Sunday August 15, 2021, at home surrounded by his family.  He was born in Buffalo, NY to Robert and Regina Klein Sr...  Bob enlisted in the Coast Guard right after High School and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer.  He had worked after retirement at Holy Rosary Catholic...

Aug 11, 2021

Janet Ann (Knutson) Gressman, 85, of Prior Lake MN, formerly of Duluth, passed away August 11, 2021. Janet was born in Sioux City Iowa, to John and Muriel (Emms) Knutson. She met her loving husband Joey through mutual family members. They married on December 20, 1953 and moved to Hawaii for two years where Joey was stationed in the...

Aug 9, 2021

Chelsea E. Bockovich, 18, of Superior WI, passed away peacefully with family by her side, Monday, August 9, 2021.  She was born in Duluth to Andy and Betty Bockovich, on December 10, 2002.

She went to Superior High School, she enjoyed science and art class, and seeing her friends. Chelsea loved to take motorcycle rides with her...

Aug 9, 2021

William John Slack, 91, passed away August 9, 2021 in the care of his family and Home Hospice. He was born September 25, 1929 in Baltimore, MD to Dr. Walter Knapp and Ruth McClelland Slack. The family which included sister Mary and brother Walter returned to Saginaw, Michigan, their hometown, soon after. Bill graduated from Saginaw High School in...

Aug 8, 2021

Former Fairbanks resident Gerrit N. Vandenberg, 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on August 8, 2021, in Mansfield, Texas. He was born May 15, 1937, in Pine City, Minnesota, near Duluth His parents were Gerrit "Jerry" Van- denberg, Sr. and Sylvia (Turpanon) Vandenberg. Gerrit, known to many as "Gary", was raised in the Duluth area,...

Aug 8, 2021

Sheryl (Thoman) Robins, 73 of Duluth, died suddenly on Sunday, Aug. 8th in her home.  Sheryl was born Oct. 31, 1947, in Springfield, Ill to John and Agnes Thoman.  She was raised in Rochester, Ill.  Sheryl was active in 4H and graduated from Rochester High School, then completed a two-year degree in Medical Records from the College of St....