All Obituaries

Wesley Kenneth Neustel, 100 of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Thursday November 26th.  He was born in Duluth, MN. on October 29th, 1920, to Clifford and Nora (Wick) Neustel.  He attended Duluth Central High School and worked at Western Auto Supply and Interlake Iron Corporation before joining the Navy in 1942.   Upon his discharge, Wes came back to Duluth where in 1945 he landed a job with Cudahy Packing Company as a salesman and managed a slot machine route just...

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 at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Arizona,...

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 on March 19th, 1977 at St. Michael’s Church in Duluth. They were each other’s best friend and love of a lifetime. Deb enjoyed spending time...

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 grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Anna married Herbert (Herb) Bjork and together raised three beautiful girls, Sue, Claudia and Greta. Seven...

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 thereafter. As a veteran of the Vietnam Era, Fred often proudly shared that he served “for 8 years, 10 months, 9 days, and an hour and a...

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 married on Dec. 16, 1967 in Duluth.  She was co-owner of Canal Park Pets with her sister-in-law and then she co-owned Zibell...

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, Phoebe; and many other family members and friends. Joel owned and operated Cooper Enterprises in Duluth for over forty years. He was a...

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 and being with his family.   Danny was a member of the Choice, unlimited family since 1995 working with various job coaches who inevitably became his trusted friend. He...

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 singing in the church choir. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie; parents; and sons, Kurt and Kyle. Bill is survived by his daughters, Sally...

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 working with theater productions in...