Obituaries

May 9, 2017

Cathryn M. Kupczynski, 97, of Duluth died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Chris Jensen Health Center, Duluth.  Cathyrn was born October 8, 1919 in Gilbert to Marco and Marie Biondich.  She graduated from Gilbert High School. Cathryn Married Edward Kupczynski in Gilbert and they moved to Duluth after WW II.  She worked at Lowell MacArthur Elementary until moving to...

May 9, 2017

Helen J. Vuchenos, 71, of Duluth died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Essentia/St. Mary’s after a short illness.  Helen was born February 14, 1946 in Duluth to James and Mary Vuchenos.  Her family moved to Toivola-Meadowlands area where she graduated from Toivola-Meadowlands High School.  After she received her LPN training, she worked at Essentia/St. Mary’s hospital, retiring after 43...

May 8, 2017

Ronald W. Nelson, 79, Duluth resident, died peacefully, Monday, May 8, 2017 surrounded by his family at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, MN following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s and kidney disease.

He was born on July 17, 1937 in Duluth, MN to Walter and Margaret (Olson) Nelson.

Ronald served his country in...

May 4, 2017

On May 4th, 2017 at age 96 just 5 days short of her 97th birthday, our much-loved Fran passed away. Preceded in death by her parents, Dr. William Joseph Ryan, and Julia Ryan (Byrnes) her beloved husband, Leonard Robert Kozarek, twin sister Winifred Arimond, sister Mary Kay O'Connell, and grandchildren Tony Benge and Tara French.Frances is survived by children...

May 4, 2017

Virginia "Ginny" L. Olson (Merritt), 95, died peacefully in Duluth May 4, 2017 surrounded by family. She was blessed with a long life full of laughter, love, music, family and dear friends.  A lifelong resident of Duluth, Ginny was born July 29, 1921. Throughout her youth she participated in Girl Scouts, earning the rank of Golden Eaglet and developing...

May 3, 2017

Deborah Jean Beck, 56, of Duluth, lost her battle with cancer and joined her mother Mary Ann in heaven on Wednesday, May 3, 2017.  She was born May 16, 1960 in Duluth to Mary Ann E. (Swarmer) and Paul Witzman, Jr.

She left behind her soul mate, Tom; her three beautiful daughters, Denise, Denita and Donna; four...

May 2, 2017

Janice “Jan” Margaret (Jacobs) Bishop,  82, of Hermantown died peacefully surrounded by her family on May 2nd, 2017 at Essentia Health, St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Jan was born on April 16th, 1935 in Duluth, MN to Stanley and Julia Jacobs. She married Bernard (Bud) Bishop on June 2, 1956. They moved to their farm in Palisade, MN,...

Apr 26, 2017

Bryce Alexander Crews, 22, of Hermantown, died Wednesday April 26, 2017. Bryce ended his battle with addiction and depression, by taking his own life, at the place he loved most, "The Cabin" in Embarrass.  Bryce was born on July 9, 1994 in Duluth to Don and Sheila(Koecher) Crews. He was a confirmed member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Duluth. Bryce...

Apr 25, 2017

Cynthia L. Orensten (Cindi), 62, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully surrounded by her family late afternoon Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN.

Cindi was born August 25, 1954 and raised in Albert Lea, MN. She moved to Ashland, WI with her husband Lloyd in 1979, where they raised their two daughters, Naomi and...

Apr 22, 2017

Domenica Mary Erickson, 88, a longtime Duluth resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 22, 2017 in St. Luke’s Hospice surrounded by her family.  She was born in Ironwood, MI on December 12, 1928 to Angelo and Elisabeth Rota, and grew up in Montreal, WI. After high school, Mary moved to Duluth to attend St. Mary’s Hospital...

Apr 21, 2017

Daniel N. “Frito Dan” Kurosky, 79, of Duluth passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Solvay Hospice House on Friday April 21, 2017.  He was born in Duluth on March 21, 1938 to Louis and Leona Kurosky.  Dan graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School in the Class of 1956, he was a member of the hockey...

Apr 14, 2017

Dr. John Burroughs Moyer passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on April 14, 2017 in Duluth, MN.

John was born in St Paul, MN on December 1, 1917, to Amos F and Marie Evans Moyer. He was raised in the Prospect Park neighborhood and attended Marshall High School. He earned the Bachelor of Science and...

Apr 9, 2017

Sister Margaret James Laughlin, OSB, 96, died at St. Scholastica Monastery April 9, 2017. She was in her 75th year of Benedictine Monastic Profession.

Sister Margaret James (Kathleen) was born on May 25, 1920, in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to James and Margaret Dillon Laughlin. She was third of four children until age seven, when her...

Apr 8, 2017

Theresa Lucille “Tess” Christen, 90, of Duluth, died Saturday, April 8, 2017 in her home with her family by her side.  A lifelong Duluth resident, she was born November 14, 1926 to Stephen and Jenny (Stretar) Lovich.

Tess married John W. “Jack” Christen on August 26, 1943.  She was...

Apr 7, 2017

Dolores Ann (Sappa) Jarocki, 85, of Duluth, MN died April 7, 2017, at Ecumen Lakeshore, with her children by her bedside. Dee was born on November 19, 1931 in Minneapolis, MN to John and Victoria Sappa. She grew up in NE Minneapolis, attended Holy Cross School and graduated from Edison High School.

Dee met her...

Apr 7, 2017

Irene Ruth Tawyea, age 85, of Duluth, died Friday, April 7, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  She was born January 20, 1932 in Toivola-Meadowlands, MN to Gust and Ina (Stoore) Maki.  Irene married Eugene R. Tawyea.  In her younger years she was involved with the PTA when her daughters were in school.  She worked as an LPN at St....

Apr 6, 2017

Evelyn F. Webb, 67, of Carlton, passed away peacefully with her family by her side Saturday, March 25, 2017.

Evelyn enjoyed her life and spending time with family and friends.

Evelyn was born in Kanabec County, on October 7, 1949 to Richard and Minty Shelton.

Evelyn was preceded in death by, parents; siblings,...

Apr 4, 2017

Donna R. Estrem, 62, of Duluth, died on Tuesday April 4, 2017, from the result of a tragic pedestrian/vehicle crash on London Road.  She was born in Sacramento, CA on January 13, 1955 to Donald and Lola Pugh.  Donna had worked for the Proctor School District as a Driver, and most recently for Senior Friend Associates as a homemaker. ...

Apr 3, 2017

Norma Janke Boe ended her journey with Alzheimer’s on April 3, 2017. She was 87 years old.  While this journey of twelve years stole from her the pleasures of her golden years, it did not change who she was prior – a caring, loving, smart and hard working woman who treasured family, friends, animals (especially cats), and traveling.

Apr 2, 2017

Corrine Evelyn Jedlicka, 71 of Spring Lake Park, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2017.

Corrine was born in White Earth Park, to Ira and Evelyn White in November 1945.

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Edward Jedlicka; her parents; and brother, Edwin White.

Corrine is survived by her children, Richard Jedlicka,...