All Obituaries

Shelley Richardson-Lundholm, 48 of Duluth passed away in her home of natural causes on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Shelley was born in Duluth on January 28, 1972 to Dan and Judith Richardson. She was married to David Lundholm. She was preceded in death by her parents Dan and Judith, grandmother Mary Laskey and aunt Marie Laskey. She is survived by her husband David Lundholm; children Christine Stimart and Lawrence Curnow; brother Dan Richardson (Marisa and Max); step-brother Tommy Smith...

Charles “Chuck” Wollack, 74, of Duluth Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, November 22nd, 2020. Chuck was born on May 13th, 1946 in Duluth to Bernard A. and Eleanor G. (Hodorff) Wollack. Chuck grew up in Hermantown and attended Saint Clement’s school as well as Hermantown High School. After high school, Chuck was a crew member on the William A. Irvin for two summers, while attending University of Minnesota-Duluth. Chuck’s career was in the railroad business, with much...

Lloyd Alfred Ethier, 96, of Duluth, passed away peacefully with family by his side Saturday, November 21, 2020.  Lloyd was born in Duluth to Alfred and Mary Ethier on May 23, 1924. Lloyd graduated in 1943 from Morgan Park High School. He started working for US Steel Duluth Works in the Open Hearth at age 17, and continued working for US Steel in Chicago, IL and Youngstown, OH, retiring in 1977. He then worked for Midwest Energy Resources in Superior, WI as a supervisor from 1977 until...

William Winston Sargent, M.D.,87 , went to his Lord on Nov. 19th, 2020.         William obtained his professional degrees of B.S. in Medicine and M.D. from the University of Illinois, and his M.S. in Anesthesiology from the University of Minnesota. His professional career involved: a locum tenens at St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford, Illinois; 3 ½ years of active duty as a Captain in the USAF stationed in France as a Consultant to the...

James Wayne Kultala, 86, passed away on November 18, 2020 in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Jim was born in Tower, Minnesota to Wayne and Lila (Hannula) Kultala on March 20, 1934.  He married Jeannette Niemi; they were married 25 years and raised six children. He served as Military Police in the Army, stationed in Fort Sheridan, IL.  In his early years, Jim drove truck for Erie Mining Company.  For many years, Jim was a car salesman for metro area dealerships; later in life he...

Iola Jean (Wahli) Vanstrom passed away peacefully in her Duluth home, at the age of 84, following a six-year struggle with mixed Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Neal; her children, Karen (Tokin), Peter, Laura (McCormick), and Janice; 11 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; her sisters, Lorna and Lorraine; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by father, Joseph Aalbue (1939); her first husband, Paul Sarlund (1961); her...

Jay (Joseph) N. Zink, 88, of French River died November 9th, 2020 at his home. Friends & Family in heaven, and there are a lot of them, must have decided they waited long enough for his welcome party to begin! He was surrounded by family and friends to his very last breathe. He graduated from Clover Valley. He enjoyed making people laugh, keeping busy and playing with his equipment! A stick didn’t have a chance in his yard! 19 yrs. as a law enforcement officer, 22 yrs. Air Force...

Dianne C. Gibson, 79 of Duluth, died Saturday, Nov. 14th at BHC, Marywood.  Dianne was born in Hibbing, Mn to Louis and Florence Merhar.  At age 6 months, her mother died, and she was adopted and loved by George and Juno Haas and her dad Louis was a part of his children’s life until his death.  Dianne graduated from Grand Rapids High School and went on to get her degree in teaching from the University of Minnesota.  She taught Art, Phys Ed and coached boys’...

Kenneth William Backstrom, 100, of Duluth, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020 at Keystone Bluffs. Kenneth was born June 4, 1920 to Hannah (Soderlund) and Conrad Backstrom in Duluth, MN.  Kenneth’s parents’ emigrated from Sweden and settled in Duluth. He married the love of his life, Georgiana Katherine Berg, in May of 1943.  They were married for 55 years before her death in 1998. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1938. In 1942 he joined the Army Air...

Roy Edward Kruger, 81, of Duluth, died Friday, November 6, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  He was born October 16, 1939 in Duluth to Norma Burke.  Roy married Roberta (Bobby) MariAnn Burns on September 29, 1962 in Duluth.    He was a Navy veteran.  Roy retired from the U. S. Postal Service in 1992 after 34 years of service.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Moose Lodge 1302.  Roy was very patriotic.  He enjoyed fishing and wood...