Obituaries

Oct 25, 2021

Dorothy M. Bouchard, 101, formerly of Duluth, died Monday, Oct. 25th at the Villa Marina Health Center, in Superior. Dorothy was born on Feb. 11, 1920, in Duluth, at her grandparents’ home. The family moved to Proctor when Dorothy was three years old. While attending Proctor High School, John Moody, the band director, became her mentor and said that...

Oct 24, 2021

We Celebrate the life of Georgia Smith Reff , 94, who was born in Harriston, Mississippi on July 26th, 1927, to John Smith and Mary Trunnell Smith, both of Mississippi, and passed quietly on Sunday, October 24, 2021 in St. Paul. For many years the family Sharecropped at the Comfort Plantation. She attended school in a small one room schoolhouse...

Oct 23, 2021

John passed peacefully on October 23, 2021, "a quintessential fall day", surrounded by love and family.  He lived a big, full life on his own terms.  Before he passed at Essentia St Mary’s, we celebrated him as the patient of the month (with a jelly filled donut) for his resilience and love of tackling hard problems.  His human body...

Oct 23, 2021

Devoted husband and loving father, passed away at the young age of 64, on October 23, 2021.  He was surrounded by his loving family when Jesus took his hand and lead him to his forever home. Born on February 26, 1957 in Duluth, Minnesota, he graduated from Cathedral High School and attended St. Mary’s University in Winona.

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Oct 20, 2021

Dale Duane Davey, 78, of Duluth died Wed, Oct. 20, 2021, in his home with his family by his side, after a short battle with cancer.

Dale was born in Duluth on January 6, 1943 to Robert F and Dorothy (Adney) Davey. He married the love of his life, Barbara Clifford on March 16, 1963.

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Oct 19, 2021

Robert Bruce Buchanan, Jr, 67, of Duluth, died Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Solvay Hospice House.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather (papa), son, brother, uncle and friend.

He was born in Duluth May 19, 1954 to Robert Bruce and Betty (Wheeler) Buchanan, Sr. He married Becky Jo (Kotzer) on November 4, 1978 in...

Oct 18, 2021

Wyatt Lee Detwiler, 16, of Cotton, MN passed away unexpectedly on Monday October 18, 2021.  He was born in Jacksonville, FL on December 23, 2004.

Wyatt was a Junior at South Ridge in Culver, MN. He grew up all over the country, residing in Maine, Oregon, Florida, and then Minnesota. He loved traveling, seeing the country, and...

Oct 13, 2021

Passed away peacefully on October 13, 2021 at the age of 76. Preceded in death by parents, Al and Selma. Survived by his wife of fifty years, Deborah; children, Amy (Andy) Czech, Dylan Cooper, and Madeline (Kent) Riggs; grandchildren, Cooper and Ivy Czech, and Graham and Owen Riggs; brothers, David (Yvonne) Cooper and Martin (Kim) Cooper; his sweet puppy,...

Oct 13, 2021

Al Arnold was born on January 4, 1932 to Fred and Ethel Arnold in Providence, RI. He passed away peacefully on October 13, 2021 in Duluth, MN. Al spent a majority of his childhood in North Scituate, RI on the family farm. At the age of 17 he moved to Duluth and attended Denfeld HS his senior year where...

Oct 12, 2021

Debra Marie (Manidoo Ikwe) Smith, 65, of Duluth, died Tuesday October 12th at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center with her husband Ed Smith by her side. She died of complications due to COVID-19. She was born November 9th, 1955 to Leonard Wayne and Ilene Jean (Gurno) Compton.

Deb and Ed were high school sweethearts. They married...

Oct 10, 2021

Deacon Frederick C. Wright, 71, of Silver Bay, died Sunday, October 10, 2021, at Benedictine Health Center with his wife by his side. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on May 6, 1950, to John and Margaret (Burke) Wright and was the eldest of ten children. Fred graduated Duluth Cathedral High School in 1968 and enlisted in the US Navy shortly...

Oct 6, 2021

Kathy M. Bakke 73, of Duluth, died, Wednesday, Oct. 6th at St. Luke’s after a courageous battle with numerous issues, with her family by her side.  Kathy was born Jan. 1, 1948 in Duluth to Eino and Angeline “Angie” Hill.  She graduated from Duluth Central High School.  She met, Don Bakke, street racing on Superior St. and they were...

Oct 5, 2021

Anna (Dunne) Bjork, formerly of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at the age of 89, one month shy of her 90 th Birthday, at the North Shore Living Care Center in Grand Marais, Minnesota. In her grandparent’s home in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Anna was born November 22, 1931 to James and Anna Dunne and...

Oct 4, 2021

Danny, 58 was born to Kenny and Lorraine Gitar on July 4, 1963 and passed away Oct. 4, 2021. Danny was a kind, friendly, happy man who enjoyed life with a great smile and sense of humor he shared with all he met. Some of his greatest loves were looking at magazines, playing catch, bowling, shredding, car rides, eating...

Oct 4, 2021

Ray E. Ruoho, age 79, passed away on October 4, 2021, in Duluth, Minnesota.  Ray was born on May 22, 1942, in Little Fork, Minnesota, to Eino Joseph Ruoho and Elma Marie Lammi Ruoho.  He attended Orr High School and Virginia Junior College.  He studied Electronics at Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis and received his Bachelor’s degree in Education...

Oct 4, 2021

William R. Kovala, 91 of Duluth, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021, at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was born in Eveleth, MN on December 24, 1929, to Richard and Lydia Kovala. Bill was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Lions Club and Curling Club. Some of Bill’s hobbies included curling, golfing, playing pool and...

Oct 3, 2021

Passed away on October 3, 2021. Obituary pending.

Oct 1, 2021

Winna Fae Serene Nisswandt passed away October 1, 2021, at Essentia-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota after a brief illness.

Winna Fae was born on September 21, 1930, in Minneapolis, MN, to Esther and Leonard Ingebrigtsen. She was the youngest of four children. Although she grew up during the Great Depression, Winna Fae would often say...

Sep 30, 2021

Rodger Alan Richards, 72, of Duluth, passed away on Thursday September 30, 2021, in St. Luke’s Hospital. He was born in Omaha, NE on December 4, 1948 to Philip and Jean Richards.  Rodger married Lorraine Holt on November 5, 1978, in Duluth, MN. He had worked at the TCF Bank Branch on the UMD campus until retirement. Rodger was a member...

Sep 27, 2021

Nick Wurzel, 53, died September 27, 2021, in Middleton, WI. He was born August 24, 1968, to Jacob and Florence (“Billie”) Wurzel in Duluth, MN.

Nick graduated from Duluth East High School, class of 1986.  Following high school, he attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and began his work in the theater industry. He traveled the country...