Obituaries

Apr 7, 2019

William F. Braun, 93, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 7, 2019.

Bill was born in Grand Rapids, MN on July 24, 1925 to Joseph and Helen Braun.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, followed by earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech.  He worked for Universal Atlas Cement...

Apr 7, 2019

Bruce Allen Hanson, 67, formerly of Hermantown passed away unexpectedly on Sunday April 7, 2019 at Lake Mead in Nevada.  He was born March 17, 1952 to Hank and Arlene Hanson.  Bruce attended Central High School and retired from the Laborer’s Local #1091.  He spent the last 7 years RVing the country, spending winters in warmer climates. He enjoyed...

Apr 2, 2019

Joyce M. (Smith) Zimmerman, 89 of Hermantown, died Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at Keystone Bluffs Assisted Living Facility. Joyce was born on July 3, 1929 in Duluth, Minnesota to Emily and Walter Smith. She lived most of her life in Hermantown alongside her husband, Lyle. They were married for 71 years and raised their three children in the family...

Apr 1, 2019

Charles K. “Chuck” Walters, 73, of Duluth, died Monday April 1, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospice.  He was born on May 12, 1945 in McGrath, MN to George P. and Sophie M. Walters, and grew up near McGrath.  After graduating from McGrath High School Charles enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving a four-year enlistment.  He graduated from UMD...

Mar 31, 2019

Duluth, MN – Charlotte Smith Moyer, 97, died Sunday, March 31 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.  Charlotte was a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, community engager, cabin entertainer, and a beautifully-stylish woman even up until her death. She had been a Duluth resident since 1950.

Born to Clarence and Blanche Smith in...

Mar 29, 2019

Mary Ward Palmquist, 90 of Duluth, died peacefully, Friday, March 29, 2019 at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center.

Mary was born April 29, 1928 in Superior, WI to George R. and Nelle (Wimer) Ward. Mary attended the Villa St. Scholastica Stanbrook Hall, and graduated from Downers Grove High School in Illinois and the Western College for...

Mar 28, 2019

Margie M. Michael, 84, of Duluth, passed away on Thursday March 28, 2019 at Franciscan Health Center surrounded by her family.  She was born on November 21, 1934 in Beroun, MN to Adolph and Frances Soukup.  Margie was a member of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary.  She had worked as a certified nursing assistant.  Margie loved to...

Mar 27, 2019

Barbara Louise (Johnson) Tyacke, 91, of Duluth, died Wednesday, March 27, 2019.  She was born November 25, 1927, the daughter of Sally and Clarence Johnson. She attended Chester Park, East Junior and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1945 and from the College of St. Scholastica in 1949 with a degree in health information management. She was a...

Mar 27, 2019

Cleone Gloria Perala, 93, passed away on March 27, 2019 in Duluth, MN.  Cleone was born on August 13, 1925 in Bear River, MN to Andrew and Agnes (Fosso) Johnsrud. Cleone married Toivo Perala in 1949, they moved to Shoreline, WA where they lived until returning to Minnesota in 2008. Cleone was a founding member of the Shoreline Unitarian...

Mar 26, 2019

James L. “Skip” Michael, 69 of Duluth died unexpectedly, Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in his home.  He was born January 12, 1950 in Rogers City, Michigan to James and Patricia Michael.  He moved to Duluth as a child and graduated from in 1968 from  Duluth Denfeld.  He went on to attend VoTec and UMD.

Skip served in...

Mar 20, 2019

Timothy Lee Nylen, 50, of St. Michael, MN passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday March 19, 2019.  He was born in Duluth on October 17, 1968 to Gary and Patricia Nylen.  He graduated from Two Harbors High School where he had played football.  He had served in the Navy Reserve.  Tim worked at Vision-ese as a Tech Manager. ...

Mar 18, 2019

Kristen J. “Kris” Hocevar Olson, 58, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 18, 2019 at the Solvay Hospice House surrounded by her family. Kris was born on June 14, 1960 in Minneapolis to Ronald and Judi Hocevar. The family moved to Virginia, MN in the early 1960’s. Kris graduated from Eveleth High School and attended the College...

Mar 18, 2019

Justine Ferkul Goritchan, 83, of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center surrounded by her family and listening to her much loved Slovenian music.  She was born November 23, 1935 in Primca vas, Slovenia to John and Marie (Skufca) Ferkul.  Justine, along with her parents and brothers, came to the...

Mar 18, 2019

Kay Beatrice Peterson (Mullin), age 82 of St. Paul, Minnesota, formerly of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019.

Kay grew up in the Morgan Park neighborhood and often spoke of her wonderful childhood surrounded with family and friends.  After graduating high school Kay received training in radiology and was an x-ray technician at St Mary's...

Mar 14, 2019

Gretchen Ann Wild, 81, of Duluth, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

She was born in Duluth on February 20, 1938, to Alfred and Gertrude “Jan” Wild.

She graduated from Cathedral, and then St Mary’s and was an LPN at St Mary’s for 40 years, retiring in 2001.  She was also active member in St. Benedict's Catholic...

Mar 12, 2019

Kenneth T. Hopponen, 85 of Hermantown, died Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at Edgewood Vista. Ken was born July 25, 1933 in Duluth to Theodore and Ina Hopponen.  He was a graduate of Duluth Central High School and DBU with a focus on business and accounting.    Ken served in the US Army in Germany during the Korean War. He was...

Mar 12, 2019

Thomas Hansen 86, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in St. Luke’s Hospice Care Center. Tom was a veteran and served in the United States Army. He retired from

Superwood as a laborer and was a member of the Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox church,  and was a member of the Order of AHEPA.

Mar 11, 2019

Phillip Sell, 52, of Duluth, passed away on March 11, 2019.  Phillip was born to Carl and Dorothy Sell, on November 5, 1966 in Duluth.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Phillip is survived by his siblings, Carl, Al, Kirk, Jason, and Heidi; and other family and friends.

Funeral service will...

Mar 11, 2019

Thomas W. Brayden, 89, born in Proctor, Minnesota to Esther and Walter Brayden died Monday, March 11, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospital.  Tom moved to Two Harbors at an early age and was a student in the Two Harbors school system.  Sports became very important to him in his high school years.  Tom attended Gustavus Adolphus College and received...

Mar 10, 2019

Timothy David Bergman, 60, of Duluth died Sunday, March 10, 2019 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center surrounded by his family and friends. He was born December 14, 1958 in Duluth to Richard John and Donna Joan (Brouse) Bergman.  Tim was a lifelong resident of Duluth and attended Duluth East High School. Tim had a long career he...