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Dean R. Koski
Dean R. Koski, 43, of Cloquet, died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, July 22, 2005 at his home, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born Nov. 1, 1961 in Cloquet to Edward and Elaine (Ward) Koski Sr. and graduated from Proctor High School in 1980. Dean worked as a machinist for Clyde Iron in Duluth and most recently for True Ride in Duluth. He loved snowmobiling, looking for agates and enjoyed drag racing.
Dean was preceded in death by his father, Edward Koski Sr.; one brother, Melvin Koski; and one infant sister, Susan Koski.
He is survived by his mother, Elaine Koski of Proctor; three brothers, Edward Koski Jr. of Cloquet, Roger Koski of Duluth, and Dale Koski of Proctor; his significant other, Andrea Simmons and her son Gage of Cloquet; and special friend, Scott Brander of Cloquet; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Services were Tuesday. Private family inurnment will be at St. Matthew’s Cemetery in Esko.
Margaret Katherine Johnson
Margaret Katherine Johnson, who moved to Proctor in 1982, was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church and was a former resident of Railview Apartments, died Sat., July 23, 2005, at the Benedictine Health Center. She was 90.
She was born in Excelsior, Minn. She graduated from Excelsior High School. Margaret married Vincent Leroy Johnson on Aug. 24, 1935. She managed Keyes Nursing Home in Excelsior until her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vincent on June 23, 1985, a grandson, a brother Albert Colby, and a son-in-law.
Survivors include daughters Beth (Richard) Zebott of Duluth, Carol Langer of Roseville; sons Richard (Grace) Johnson of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Wesley (Lynn) Johnson of St. Cloud, brothers John W. Colby, Jr., Francis (Mae) Colby, Melvin Colby, and Walter (Viola) Colby, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitaion is 4-7 p.m. today (Thurs.) with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. in St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, 680 Mill St., Excelsior, where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Shorewood.
Daniel “Dan” Gene Thorberg
Daniel “Dan” Gene Thorberg, who was a former Proctor resident graduating from Proctor High School in 1972, died Tues., July 26, 2005, in his Maple Grove, Minn. home. He was 51.
Daniel was born in Duluth on Nov. 6, 1953 to Gilbert and Carol (Carlson) Thorberg. Dan graduated from UMD in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Soon after graduation Dan passed the CPA exam and was awarded his CPA license. Dan then moved to Minneapolis where he spent his next 28 years. He was a Sr. Accountant for Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, was an Auditor Manager for Norwest Audit Services, and was a Management Accountant for Norwest Mortgage. For the past 18 years, Dan was a Senior VP, Group Controller of TCF Bank and was also an Officer of TCF Financial Corporation. Daniel loved his work and family.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Keith, and his grandmother Hazel Carlson.
Surviving are a sister Patricia (Dennis) Nettleton and a brother Kenneth, both of Duluth, nieces and nephews Melisa (Richard) Lanthier and their children Paige and Blake of Duluth, Grant (Elizabeth) and their son Vaughn of Proctor, and Wes Nettleton of Blaine.
Inurnment is in the Augustana Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Patricia M. Allen
Kristy (Duane) Zywicki of Twig is mourning the death of her mother, Patricia M. Allen. She died Mon., July 25, 2005 in her Duluth home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 61.
Pat was a Duluth resident for most of her life. She retired from the London Road Super America after 20 years.
She will also be missed by her loving husband of 43 years Michael J. Allen, sons Kevin (Laurie) Allen of Solon Springs, Wis., Ron of Twin Cities and Marc of Duluth, seven grandchildren, her father Darold LeValla, and sister Sharon (Len) Hanson.
Services were held July 29, 2005 in the Hermantown Community Church.
Kathryn Marie “Kathy” Godfrey
Alice Thompson (Daryle Warner) of Saginaw is mourning the death of her sister Kathryn Marie “Kathy” Godfrey of Esko. She passed away Fri., July 29, 2005 in St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was 52.
She was born in Duluth on July 12, 1953 to William and Clara (Filiatrault) Godfrey.
Kathy graduated from Denfeld High School in 1972. She was employed at Duluth Laundry. She was an active member of the Lakehead Harvest Reunion.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and sisters Carol Ann, Mary, Margerite and Alice Godfrey.
Kathy is also survived by her companion, Richard Piirainen of Esko, a son Matthew Piirainen (Andrea Wood) of Esko, special friend Elsa Piiranen of Cromwell, siblings Thomas (Claudia) Godfrey of Superior, Wis., Mary Ann (Gordon) Allar of San Antonio, Texas, Joanne (Timothy) Carroll of Duluth, Peggy Overlie of Sedona, Ariz., Michael Godfrey and Julie Godfrey of Duluth, many nieces and nephews and her cat, Stinky.
A memorial service was held at the Solway Town Hall.
Robert “Bob” Ketchum
Robert “Bob” Ketchum, who was a graduate of Proctor High School, died Sat., Aug. 6, 2005, as the result of a drowning accident on Iron Lake in Iron River, Wis. The Superior, Wis. resident was 44.
He was born Feb. 22, 1961 in Duluth to Clara Ann (Grohsman) and Harry Edward Ketchum. Bob worked as a certified nursing assistant at St. Francis in the Park Nursing Home, and for PRN Health Services. He was a member of AFSME. An avid fisherman, Bob also enjoyed camping, snowmobiling and cooking. Bob was a carefree, fun loving man with a great sense of humor. He was a very caring man who loved people.
He was preceded in death by his father Harry on Oct. 2, 2000.
He is survived by his mother Clara of Superior, brothers Randy of Superior, Ronald (Day Linda) of Carlton, and Roger of Duluth, his niece Jennifer (Kevin Anderson) Ketchum and her children Jasmine Eastman and Brady Anderson of Wrenshall, his fiancee Cheryl Grigsby and her family of Superior, his step-grandchildren Caitlin, Randy, Michael, Jr. and Veronica and his foster son Amadou Ceesay from the Christian Children’s Fund.
Visitation will continue today (Thursday) in Bell Brothers Funeral Home, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service.
Aune Signe (Lundberg) Lane
Services were held earlier in the week for Aune Signe (Lundberg) Lane, formerly of Orchard St. She passed away Thurs., Aug. 4, 2005 in Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 80.
She was born in Arthyde, Minn. Aune married Raymond C. Lane in 1945. She was a professional seamstress for many companies. Aune loved flowers, plants, knitting, watching old westerns and her sewing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond on Jan. 31, 1990, sisters Anne Francis and Mary Kinnunen and brothers Rudie and Carl Lundberg.
Aune is survived by her sons Raymond “Chuck” Jr. (Doreen) and Ronald (Cindy), brother Bill (Elsie) Lundberg, grandchildren Deanna, Darilyn and Kayla Lane, Tracy Lane, Toni Banta, Denise Blacketter, Terry Lane, step-grandchildren Amanda and Michelle, and all her great-grandchildren.
Services were held in the First Memorial Funeral Chapel. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Park.
Helen Bradford Reed
Former longtime Proctor resident Helen Bradford Reed passed away peacefully on Thurs., Aug. 4, 2005, in Virginia, Minn. She was 89.
Helen was born in Waverly, Iowa, raised in Mason City, Iowa, and graduated from Mason City High School. She was a wife and homemaker, who dearly loved her family and friends. Helen was the former manager of the Shoppers City Beauty Salon. She loved all things beautiful, music, flowers, writing, poetry, nature, and life. Helen spent the last years of her life looking out her window and observing nature and all the beautiful sights there was to behold.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and Elsie Nickolson, beloved aunt and Uncle Lynn, a brother, two sisters and her daughter Kathleen Haugen.
She is loved and will be dearly missed by sons Richard (Diane) Bradford of Edina, Lynn Bradford of Fla., Leonard (Rita) Reed of Isanti, and daughters Marilee Bradford (John) Wasbotten of Britt, Fran (Robert) Sommers of Rosemount, 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. If so desired, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Rose Catholic Church and School, Proctor.
Funeral services were yesterday at Bell Brothers Funeral Home. Interment at Oneota Cemetery at a later date. She will be buried next to her beloved daughter Kathleen.
Margaret Elizabeth Smith
Leo Smith of Proctor is mourning the death of his mother, Margaret Elizabeth Smith of Cloquet. She died Sun., Aug. 7, 2005, in Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet. She was 92.
She was born in Grantsburg, Wis. and grew up and attended school in Carlton. Margaret married Albert Smith on March 2, 1931 in Carlton. From 1961 through 1977, she worked for the Cloquet schools as a custodian and a cook. Margaret was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, LWML and, Ladies Quilting Club. She was also a member of the Retired Cooks Luncheon Group and helped to deliver meals on wheels. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, playing cards, and cooking.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Albert, a daughter-in-law, brothers Oscar, Norman, Harold and Dick Franseen, and a sister, Astrid Franseen.
She is also survived by sons Gerald (Berty) of Barnum and Albert “Skip” (Mary) of Phoenix, daughters Yvonne (Bob) Peterson of Wright, Myrna (Dean) Knight of Denver, Colo. and Peggy (Bob) DeCaigny of Cloquet, sister Tillie Franseen Caron of Vancouver, Wash., many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held earlier in the week in Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Burial in Forest Hill Cemetery in Cromwell.
Alexander “Alex” Leo Hoffman
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Fri., Aug. 19 for Alexander “Alex” Leo Hoffman, 88, of Duluth. He died Mon., Aug. 15, 2005, in the St. Eligius Health Care Center.
Alex was born in Pierz, Minn. on June 10, 1917 to John and Regina (Schubert) Hoffman. Alex served in the Army during WWII. He was a member of the American Legion Post #71, United Paper Workers of America local 776, VFW, and the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate.
On September 13, 1938, he married Mildred “Millie” Virnig. Alex was active in farming in Pierz from 1938 to 1944. He entered the Army in 1945. He was a rifleman in the infantry Division. He served in the Pacific and was part of the Invasion of Okinawa. Alex received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal. He also served in the 13th engineering division. Alex received his discharge on January 25, 1946. After the war he returned to Brainerd Minn. until 1951 when he and Millie moved to Proctor where they lived until moving to Heritage Apts in 1988.
Alex had a variety of employments, working as a bakery driver, cab driver, service station attendant and also owned and operated a scrap yard. When he moved to Proctor, he worked as a boiler maker helper for the DM&IR from 1951 to 1959. He then worked for 17 years at Chun King followed by 9 years at Superwood until he retired on July 1, 1982.
Alex is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Florence Weiss, Johanna Roberts, Josephine Janorschki, Alma Hoffman and Alvina Poser; brothers, Joseph, Michael, Peter and Ted
He is survived by his wife of 66+ years, Millie; sons, William “Dale” (Shirlene) of Irving, Tex., Rev. Fr. Dennis H. Hoffman of Crosslake, Minn., Roger A. Hoffman of Brookston; Ken A Hoffman of Proctor, Daniel “Dan” P. (Kathleen) of Rush City, and Alex D. Hoffman of Proctor; daughters, Sharon Hoffman of Minneapolis, Judy Hoffman of Barnum; Diane Hoffman of Proctor, and Sheila M. (Greg) Hughes of Wyoming, a sister, Pauline Sonnenberg of Brainerd; 20 grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren, including his most recent great-grandson, Reese Alexander; and his special friend, Everill Mercil of Naples, Fla.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7:00 p.m. with Wake Prayers at 6:00 p.m. Thursday in Bell Brothers Funeral Home and continue from 10 until the 11:00 a.m. Mass in St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church.
Memorials to the Church elevator fund would be appreciated. Burial will be in Sunrise Memorial Park.
