Obituaries

Mar 1, 2018

Nancy Carol Sampson, 87, of Duluth, died March 1, 2018 at Beehive Homes in Duluth.  She was born January 14, 1931 to Paul Van Duyn and Frances (Belski) Van Duyn in the city she loved Duluth, where she graduated from St. Clement's Catholic School and Duluth Denfeld.  Nancy married Robert Sampson in 1951 and they had one son Michael...

Mar 1, 2018

Sister Elizabeth Ann Gilbertson, OSB, 93, died March 1, 2018 at St. Scholastica Monastery.  She was born on September 6, 1924 to Leonard and Anna Teresa (Lutwitz) Gilbertson in Ashland, Wisconsin.  Sister was in her seventy-fifth year of Monastic Profession.

After graduating from High School in 1941, Betty Ann felt called to religious life and entered St....

Feb 28, 2018

Muffett (Frances) Kamp, age 61, of Duluth, died unexpectedly Wednesday, February 28, 2018 while on vacation in Florida, after a brief battle with cancer.  She was born in Duluth, on January 30, 1957, to Michael and Frances 'Putts' Ritchie.  Muffett graduated from East High School in 1975 and married Daniel Kamp in October 1979.  She had a special relationship...

Feb 26, 2018

George Isadore Franckowiak, 72 of Gnesen, died Monday, February 26, 2018 at St. Luke’s, with his family by his side.  George was born April 11, 1945 in Duluth to Edward and Frances Franckowiak.  He was a graduate of Duluth Central and he received an associate degree from UMD.  He served in the US Army Reserve for six years.  He...

Feb 24, 2018

Orville “Dick” Martin Maas, 88, of Duluth, passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center.  He was born June 10, 1929, to Hubert and Frances (Ehalt) Maas in St. Bonifacius, MN.  Dick married Viola O. Struck in St. Bonifacius on April 18, 1953.  He had many talents over the years.  As a young...

Feb 23, 2018

Elaine A. Thompson, 84, of Duluth, passed away peacefully, in Duluth, February 17, 2018.

Elain was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 27, 1933.

After graduation from high school she went to Chicago and worked at Melvin Electronics.

Preceded in death by her parents Ruby and Murry Thompson; sister, Merdita A. Vandenberg; and brother,...

Feb 23, 2018

Pepper Kevy Schneller

On Friday, February 23, 2018 Pepper was found deceased in her residence.  The illness and addiction that had stolen her sparkle, took her life.

Pepper is now in her final resting place.  She has been given blessings and sent on her journey by her children and her parents.  She is now free...

Feb 20, 2018

Charlene June Freeman, 90, of Duluth, passed away Tuesday February 20, 2018 with her family by her side in Chris Jensen Health & Rehabilitation Center.   She was born in Duluth on June 24, 1927 to Thomas and Isabelle Bartz.  Charlene graduated from Denfeld High School and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.  The family wishes to extend a...

Feb 18, 2018

Patricia Louise Gentry, 84, of Duluth, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at St. Ann’s Residence.  Pat was born October 10, 1933 in Duluth, to James and Margaret Gentry.  Pat graduated from Stanbrook Hall in 1951, she worked as a transcriptionist at the Duluth Clinic for 52 years.

Pat was a Lecturer, Eucharistic...

Feb 18, 2018

Charlotte M. Ecklund, 90, formerly of Twig, died Sunday, February 18, 2018 at St. Luke’s, with her family by her side.  Charlotte was born January 6, 1928 in Cloquet to Mary (John) and Ernest Weiner and she graduated from Cloquet High School.  She met Clarence Ecklund and they were married on June 14, 1948.  She was a longtime member...

Feb 16, 2018

Jeanne Shirley Falconer, 95, died Friday, February 16th, 2018 at Marywood Assisted Living in Duluth. She was born in Duluth on May 31st, 1922 to Gladys and Roy Dennler.

Jeanne was a Duluth Central High School graduate and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, she took a post teaching...

Feb 16, 2018

Claudia Mae Thoreson, 70 of Duluth died Friday, February 16, 2018 in her home.  Claudia was born January 28, 1948 in Duluth to Orland and Evelyn Tangen.  She was a graduate of Duluth Central and attended UMD.  While at UMD, Claudia met Jim Thoreson and they were married in 1969 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth.  She began working...

Feb 16, 2018

Claudia Mae Thoreson, 70 of Duluth died Friday, February 16, 2018 in her home.  Claudia was born January 28, 1948 in Duluth to Orland and Evelyn Tangen.  She was a graduate of Duluth Central and attended UMD.  While at UMD, Claudia met Jim Thoreson and they were married in 1969 at First Lutheran Church in Duluth.  She began working...

Feb 15, 2018

Halina Strugala, 61, of Duluth, died peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday February 15, 2018.  She was born on June 11, 1956 in Ichwy, Estonia to Jan and Eugenia Baranowski.  Halina married Adam Strugala in Poland in May of 1981, and together they escaped to an Austrian refugee camp in 1982 and immigrated to the United...

Feb 8, 2018

Evelyn LaVern Vessel, 91, of Duluth, died Thursday February 8, 2018 at the Benedictine Living Community.  She was born in Chisholm, MN on April 17, 1926 to John and Veronica Vessel.  She had worked as an Accountant for U.S. Steel until her retirement.

Visitation will be held on Monday February 19, 2018 from 10AM until the 11AM Mass...

Feb 6, 2018

Arlo “Bob” Pfahl, 89 of Esko, died Tuesday, February 6, 2018 in his home, with his family by his side.Bob was born July 18, 1928 in Butte, North Dakota to Christlieb and Emma Pfahl.  He graduated from Glenwood High School, Glenwood, MN and enlisted in the Navy serving on the U.S.S. Kidd during the Korean War.  He went on...

Feb 6, 2018

Carolyn Joyce (St. Marie) Korby, 87, born March 1, 1930 to Albert and Theresa St. Marie, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2018 in Webster, WI. Carolyn lived in Duluth, MN for over 84 years where she attended Duluth Central High School and the Duluth Area Institute of Technology. She married LeRoy Korby April 26, 1947, and lived and...

Feb 5, 2018

Maxine June Sjelin, 85, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday February 5, 2018 in her home.   She was born in Coloma Twp., MI on December 2, 1932 to Bert and Seville Nelson.  Maxine was a homemaker.  She was 60-year member of the River Church, and a member of the Glad Timers at the Church.

She was...

Feb 3, 2018

Mark Ralph Eckman succumbed to prostate cancer on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at St Mary's Medical Center, where he was born 75 years earlier. Mark grew up in Duluth’s west end, and graduated from Denfeld High (1960) and Gustavus Adolphus College (1963).  He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School (1967), then was an internal medicine resident at...

Feb 3, 2018

Elaine Mallory Hanger, 91, of Duluth, died Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Viewcrest Health and Rehabilition Center.  She was born in Duluth August 14, 1926 to George and Helen (Dibble) Mallory.  Elaine was a graduate of Clover Valley High School.  She worked as an auditor for the 711 stores, and  as a waitress at many restaurants.  She was a...