All Obituaries

  Elsie M. Aho Kovala, 86, of Duluth, passed away on Wednesday April 1, 2020 at the Franciscan Health Center.  She was born in Virginia, MN on January 20, 1934 to Oscar and Selma Aho.  Elsie had worked at Maurice’s in the special-order department.  She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and the Altar Guild at church.  Elsie enjoyed traveling, sewing and she was a great seamstress.   Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, sons...

Arlene G. Thomas, 83 of Duluth died Wednesday, July 29,  2020.  Arlene was born April 6, 1937 in Duluth to Archie and Gladys Rappana.  She was a Graduate of Duluth Denfeld and attended UMD.  Arlene met Ron Thomas and they were married in Aug. of 1957. Arlene and Ron made their home on the North Shore near Silver Bay, where they were members of United Protestant Church.  She moved to Duluth in 1991.  Arlene was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and...

Delores “Dodo” M. Cheslak, 91 of Duluth, died Thursday, just seven days shy of her 92nd birthday at the Franciscan Home with her family by her side.  Dodo was born July 30, 1928 in Duluth to Zygmunt and Josephine Cieslukowski.  She was the eleventh born of the eleven kids.  She graduated from Cathedral High School and retired from the Sea Farers International Union, where she was the secretary.  Dodo was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where she was...

Garrett Thomas Kelley, age 78, of Duluth, died Saturday, July 25, 2020 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was born August 1, 1941 in Niagara Falls, NY to Dr. Raymond T. and Eleanor (Casey) Kelley and they then moved to Florida. Garrett married Judith Ann Estness on September 10, 1974 in Duluth. He had worked for the Kennedy Space Center as an electrician, Ben Sundland Plumbing Company, Sears and at St. Lawrence and St. Joseph Catholic churches. Garrett was a Navy veteran...

Thomas J. Slattery, 67, of Duluth, died on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House. Tom was born October 22, 1952, grew up on Park Point and lived in the Duluth area all his life. Tom courageously struggled with multiple health issues over the past seven years with the intent of remaining mobile and home. Tom was in the last graduating class of the old Central High School, graduating in 1971. He attended the Duluth Vocational Technical Institute with a degree in Business and...

James H. Manderfeld passed away on July 22, 2020 surrounded by family in Duluth, MN at age 95 after a short battle with Multiple Myeloma.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Hilger and Ottilia Manderfeld; his sister, Joan Brandt; his loving wife of 60 years, Marilyn; and his youngest son, Christopher.  He will be greatly missed by his children and their spouses: Mark (Deb), Leslie (Jack), David (Laura), Shelly (Bruce), and Peter (Michelle); by his grandchildren: Nicholas,...

Edith (Gustafson) Stapleton died peacefully on June 4, 2020 after a life well lived for 104 years. Edith was born to humble beginnings on a farm in Clover Valley, MN in 1915. She was the youngest of five children whose birth was in a log house, to loving Swedish immigrant parents who believed in hard work and the American dream. Edith was educated in a one room grade school in Clover Valley and graduated from Clover Valley High School at the top of her class in 1933 as one of 15...

Howard W. Erickson, age 99, of Duluth, died Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Golden Oaks Assisted Living in Hermantown.  He was born May 23, 1921 in Worester, MA to Knute and May (Farnon) Erickson.  Howard was a World War II Army veteran, serving with the 5th. Fighter Command.  He was a 1948 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth.  Howard was employed by Western Electric in Duluth from 1946-1948; U.S. Steel in Duluth from 1948-1973, and U.S. Steel in Gary Ind. from...

John Grassinger of Duluth, passed away Monday, July 13, 2020 at age 87 with his family by his side, after a three-year battle with cancer.  He was born in Duluth, to Albert and Mary, on September 17, 1932. John was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.  He was a graduate from Denfeld High School.  He worked for the 148th Fighter Wing – Minnesota Air National Guard for 38 ½ years, where he was known as the penguin. He enjoyed talking with new people, wood...

Yvonne L’Abbe` passed away suddenly at home in the early morning hours of July 7th. Yvonne leaves behind her loving husband Mark Harrell and her children Joseph, Michelle, and stepdaughter Reesa. Yvonne was an unparalleled mother and was thrilled to return to Duluth, the city where she was raised and so dearly loved, to raise her children. Yvonne was an IT career professional as a project manager for IBM and co-owned a handsaw manufacturing firm with her husband, Bad Axe Tool...