Obituaries

Jul 1, 2021

Lloyd Marvin Johnson, 86, of Duluth, died Thursday, July 1, 2021 at home with his family by his side.  He was born September 3, 1934 in Duluth to Marvin J. and Gerda M. (Sundell) Johnson.  Lloyd attended Proctor High School.  He married Doris Y. Sams on March 16, 1957.  He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather....

Jun 29, 2021

Timothy Wayne Frantz, 74, of Duluth, died Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at his residence.  He was born November 19, 1946 in Duluth to Melvin R. and Dorothy S. (Davidson) Frantz.  Tim was a 1964 graduate of Duluth Central High School.  Tim will be remembered for his love of family and friends whether it was camping trips, times spent with...

Jun 27, 2021

Albert Henry Nephew II, PhD, age 80, of Duluth, Minnesota, died June 27th, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.

Al was a cheerful and dedicated professor of philosophy for 43 years at the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN from 1970-2013. He served as a Humanities Division Chair and Chair of the Philosophy Department and he wrote...

Jun 26, 2021

James Troy Johnson, 54, of Duluth, died Saturday, June 26, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  He was born in Duluth on September 27, 1966 to Floyd and Lorraine (Johnson) Johnson.  Jim enjoyed playing the guitar and loved playing hockey.  He loved his grandkids-they were his life.  Always on the go, he was the fun, goofy uncle to his nieces...

Jun 25, 2021

Robert Ray Drannen, 95, of Duluth, passed away on Friday June 25, 2021, in St. Luke’s Hospital.  He was born in Perham, MN on May 30, 1926, to Raymond and Catherine Drannen.  Bob graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1947.  He was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving as a Third Class Carpenter’s Mate in the Seabees during World...

Jun 24, 2021

Frederick A. Olsen, 88, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Thursday June 24, 2021, at St Luke’s Hospital after a short illness. Fred was born March 30, 1933, at St Mary’s Hospital in Duluth to Arthur and Bessie Olsen. After graduating from Central High School and University of Minnesota Duluth, he married Laetitia Laux in 1955. Fred joined the...

Jun 24, 2021

Shirley Clara (Blesener) Bryant was born April 2, 1924 in Duluth, Minnesota to parents Alfred and Clara (Kreisel) Blesener. She was the fifth of six children.  She lived independently until the pandemic.  Shirley Clara Bryant died peacefully surrounded by family on June 24, 2021.

Shirley was a graduate of the class of 1943 from Duluth Central High...

Jun 24, 2021

Brendan James Flaherty was born on January 14th, 1964 in Duluth, Minnesota and passed away surrounded by family on June 24th, 2021 at the age of 57 after a three year long battle with cancer. Brendan was larger than life and touched so many lives within the community in which he remained throughout his life. He leaves a legacy...

Jun 23, 2021

Irene Ellen (Bowdery) Maio, 94, of Duluth, passed away peacefully in her home Wednesday, June 23, 2021.  She was born in London, England on October 19, 1926, an only child to William and Ellen Bowdery.  She met and married Joseph Maio on August 18, 1945, in London, England during WWII.  The two moved to Duluth in 1946.  She made...

Jun 21, 2021

Emerson “Em” Stahl, 69 of Proctor, passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a short illness on Monday, June 21 at Essentia St. Mary’s. Em was born July 4, 1951 in Bemidji to Gary and Marjorie (Stecker) Stahl. He attended Brainerd High School and graduated from Bemidji State University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial...

Jun 19, 2021

Phyllis Mary James, 97, of Duluth, died Saturday, June 19 th in her home with her family by her side. Phyllis was born in Duluth on March 1, 1924, to Roy and Lima Baker and graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1941.  Phyllis met Bob James on a blind date, and they were married Sept. 25, 1948. They were happily married...

Jun 17, 2021

Delpha LeAnn House, 67, of Duluth, MN, passed away on June 11, 2021.

LeAnn led a life filled with the creation and appreciation of beauty, caring for the planet and the needs of her community. The same hands that brought life to Beethoven piano sonatas worked in the First United Methodist Church kitchen producing hundreds of pies...

Jun 13, 2021

Robert “Bob” Michael Madich, 70, of Duluth, passed away peacefully, Sunday, June 13, 2021. Bob was born June 16, 1950, in Chisholm, MN to Daniel and Mildred J. (LaMusga) Madich.  Bob attended the Chisholm schools and graduated in 1968.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served two tours in Vietnam, first with the 189th AHC...

Jun 4, 2021

Betty Jean Contardo, age 92, of Duluth, Minnesota, died Friday, June 4, 2021, at Aftenro Residence in Duluth.

Betty was born to Rose Doyle in Duluth, Minnesota on February 3, 1929. Rose married Lawrence Wainio in 1929 and together they raised Betty in their home on East Skyline Boulevard along with their two children, Joyce and John....

May 30, 2021

Wlady L. (Lottie) Hoder, 79, of Duluth, died Sunday May 30, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Wlady was born in Ostowe, Poland Nov. 16, 1941 to Anton and Lucja Wabik. Wlady immigrated from Germany in 1951 with her family and settled in Duluth, Mn. While working at the Greyhound bus station in Duluth, she met her husband to be,...

May 27, 2021

Lillian C. Horvath 88, of Duluth died on Thursday May 27, 2021 at Edgewood Vista.  She was born in Duluth in 1933 to Leo and Jessie Raymond.  Lillian was an active member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, singing in church choir and Rosary Society.  She was a former PTA member, Cub Scout Leader, Campfire Girl Leader,...

May 22, 2021

Pauline Caudill, 94, of Superior, WI died peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021.  She was born April 17, 1927 in Pilot, KY to Arthur Earl and Elsie Mae (Boyd) Wireman. She spent most of her life in Dayton, OH and moved to Superior 10 years ago to be closer to family.

Pauline was a beloved mother, grandmother and...

May 22, 2021

Thomas Edward Muhvic, 79, of Duluth died peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center with his wife and daughters at his bedside.  He had been diagnosed with cancer 18 months prior and fought courageously to the very end.

Tom was born October 31, 1941 in Virginia, MN.  He grew up in Duluth,...

May 20, 2021

James M. “Jim” McGregor, 48, of Duluth, died Thursday May 20, 2021 in his residence.  He was born in Duluth on April 8, 1973 to Michael and Barbara McGregor.  Jim graduated from Duluth Central High School.  He worked for Northland Constructors as a Laborer, he started work with them in 1989.  Jim was a member of the Labor Union Local...

May 20, 2021

Elaine Esther Finner, 93 of Duluth, died on Thursday May 20, 2021 in St. Luke’s Hospital.  She was born on October 5, 1927 in Fertile, MN to Robert and Esther Kilte Sr.  Elaine graduated from Deer River High School.  She enjoyed crocheting and had completed over 1000 afghans.  Elaine loved to play Bingo, Keno, and cribbage.  She was a...