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Kenneth R. Gilbertson
Kenneth R. Gilbertson, 60, SERVICES: Private family inurnment services will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Buhl, with the Rev. Jan Barker of United Methodist Church in Chisholm officiating. Arrangements are by Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Chisholm.
Kenneth R. Gilbertson, 60, of Buhl, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, in University Medical Center - Mesabi in Hibbing.
He was born on May 17, 1940, in Chisholm, to Wallace O. and Lillian H. (Nelson) Gilbertson. He had been a Buhl resident for more than 25 years, and had worked as a bartender.
Survivors include his mother, Lillian H. Gilbertson of Chisholm; brother, Richard of Boise, Idaho; sisters, Sandy (Ron) Novak of Chisholm and Sue (Dick) Slominski of Crystal, Minn.; and several nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wallace O., and his wife, Ione M., on May 13, 1996.
Lawrence “Chic" M. Harrington
Lawrence “Chic" M. Harrington, 80, SERVICES: Graveside services at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik, with Deacon Herb Riley officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Military honors will be accorded by Aurora American Legion Post 241.
Lawrence “Chic" M. Harrington, 80, of Arlington Heights (Chicago), Ill., formerly of Biwabik, died Friday, Oct. 13, 2000, at North West Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
He was born Oct. 23, 1919, in Biwabik to John and Theresa Harrington. He served the country in the Army during World War II in the European Theater. He worked for International Harvester for 40 years, retiring in 1980.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian; a son, John (Jean), of Salem, Wis.; daughters, Marjorie Mack of Arlington Heights and Judith (Robert) McManus of Vancouver, Wash.; grandchildren, Timothy, John, Brian, Robert and Katie; a sister, Nora (Eugene) Korpi, of Embarrass; brothers, Bernard “Bud” Harrington of White Community Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility in Aurora and Leo Harrington of Harmony House in Motley, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Kathleen, in 1995; two brothers, James in 1963 and Robert “Penzy’’ in 1989; and sisters, Marie Johnson in 1996 and Cecelia Harrington in 1924.
Martin E. Koski Sr.
Martin E. Koski Sr., 82, Martin Eugene Koski Sr., 82, of Portsmouth, N.H., and Iron, Minn., died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000, at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1918, in Eveleth, the son of Mattti and Hilja Koski, and was the second of two children. He grew up on a farm in Iron. He graduated from Eveleth High School, and Eveleth Junior College in 1938. He married Aini Heinonen on Aug. 25, 1945, in Walla Walla, Wash. They were stationed in many places in the United States and Guam before transferring to Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth in 1962. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 as a lieutenant colonel. After retirement, he worked part-time as a real estate agent and for the Internal Revenue Service in Andover, Mass. He was a Mason and a Toastmaster. He enjoyed playing the harmonica and accordion, visiting with family and friends, playing chess, traveling, and, like all true Finns, going to sauna.
Survivors include his wife, Aini and son, Martin, both of Portsmouth; daughters, Sonya Carter of Canaan, N.H., Sandra Koski of Nashville, Tenn., Irene Cruikshank of Deerfield, N.H., and Norma Koski of Deerfield; seven granddaughters; six grandsons; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by a brother, George; and a son, Karl (Lennie) Koski.
John A. Larson
John A. Larson, 67, SERVICES: Service 1 p.m. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church in Chisholm, with the Rev. Steve Breitbarth officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Chisholm Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Chisholm.
John A. “Jack” Larson, 67, of Chisholm died Friday, Oct. 13, 2000, in United Hospital in St. Paul.
He was born on Sept. 23, 1933, in Parkville, Minn., to Anthony and Ida (Lindholm) Larson. He was a 1951 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Virginia and had been a lifelong Iron Range resident. He was united in marriage on July 28, 1962, in Virginia to JoAnne C. Popovich. He retired in 1998 as a locomotive engineer from the DW&P/CN Railroad after 46 years of service. He was a 15-year veteran of the National Guard, serving as head mess steward. He was an avid outdoorsman and was a loving and devoted husband, father and friend.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnne C.; children, Sharon Larson of Tampa, Fla., and Steve (Tammy) Larson of St. Paul; sisters, Delores Zier and Lorraine Marsh, both of Kansas City, Kan., and Bernice Kochevar of Duluth; and numerous nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Evie Davila; and two nephews.
Walter G. Tessmer IV
Walter G. Tessmer IV, 17, SERVICES: Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Biwabik. The Rev. Jeffrey Jones of the Biwabik Covenant Church will officiate. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Walter G. Tessmer IV, 17, of Biwabik, died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth as a result of complications with asthma.
He was born on May 8, 1983, in Minneapolis to Walter III and Cheryl (Anderson) Tessmer. He was currently a junior at Mesabi East High School and was manager of the boys varsity basketball team. He was very involved with the Biwabik Covenant Church and its youth group. He attended summer Bible camp at Mahtowa, and attended the Tennessee Youth Convention. He was a member of the L.E.O. Club and the Boy Scouts, where he attended Camp Tomahawk.
Survivors include his parents; brother, Christopher, of Biwabik; maternal grandparents, Leonard and Marge Anderson of Aurora; paternal grandmother, Gloria Tessmer, of St. Paul; maternal great-grandmother, Hazel Flannery, of Palo; two aunts; three uncles; several cousins; and Godparents, Michelle and Edward Harju of Eveleth and James and Kristie Seibert of Gilbert.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Walter Tessmer; paternal great-grandmother, Frances Wooten; and maternal great-grandfathers, John Flannery and Carl Wendell Peterson.
Donald C. Spragg Sr.
Donald C. Spragg Sr., 67, SERVICES: Funeral service 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji, Minn., with the Rev. Darwin Schauer officiating. Burial in Pine Grove Cemetery in Cass Lake, Minn., under direction of Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and before the service on Wednesday. Honorary bearers will be Brian Krivich, Gerald Spragg, Christopher Spragg, Dean Spragg, Jeffrey Spragg, Daniel Spragg, Wesley Millis, Frank Loeffler and Richard Tammaro. Casket bearers will be Wayne Spragg, Kerry Spragg, Michael Krivich, Mark Krivich, Terry Loeffler and Darwin Loeffler.
Donald Curtis Spragg Sr., 67, of Becida, Minn., died Friday, Oct. 13, 2000, at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji.
He was born Aug. 5, 1933, on a farm in Fern Township of Hubbard County, Minn., the son of Chauncey and Lillie (Elfman) Spragg. He grew up on the farm and attended the Meadowview School. He then worked with his family on the farm, and also logging in the woods. He worked at construction in Anchorage, Alaska, during the summer of 1952, returning to Becida late that fall. He married E. Marie Loeffler on Aug. 14, 1954, in Virginia. They lived in Eveleth, and he worked in the iron mines until 1971. He moved his family to Benedict, Minn., and worked for Johnson Construction of Park Rapids as an aerial lift bucket operator until 1985, when declining health caused him to retire. He enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Spragg, of Becida; one son, Donald (Shirley) C. Spragg Jr., of Laporte, Minn.; one daughter, Robin Spragg, and her fiance, Gary Johnson, of Bemidji; two grandsons, Shane and Ethen Spragg; two brothers, Harold (Joanne) Spragg of Proctor and Dennis Spragg of Eveleth; and two sisters, Violet (Jack) Vuckovich of Virginia and Edna Gulbranson of Lindstrom, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and one sister.
Teresa L. Bianchi-Rossi
Teresa L. Bianchi-Rossi, 83, SERVICES: Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mountain Iron. The Rev. John Doyle will be celebrant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, with Rosary prayers at 7 p.m., at the Range Funeral Home in Virginia, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church Thursday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Virginia.
Teresa L. Bianchi-Rossi, 83, of Mountain Iron, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000, at the Virginia Regional Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 17, 1917, to Paolo and Libera Babbini in Fivizzano, Italy. She grew up in Italy, where she married Angelo Bianchi-Rossi on Feb. 26, 1936. She lived in Italy for 39 years, immigrating to Mountain Iron in 1956 with her family. She was employed by the Arrow Shirt Factory in Virginia. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mountain Iron, the Mountain Iron Senior Citizens, and she loved to play bingo.
She is survived by two sons, Mario (Marilynn) Bianchi-Rossi of Ham Lake, Minn., and Robert Bianchi-Rossi of Coon Rapids, Minn.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Clementina Menini of Perth, West Australia; one niece, Maria Bianchi of Avenza, Italy.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Angelo; one son, Michael; and an infant son, Paolo.
Mary Gornick
Mary Gornick, 94, SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. The Rev. Rudolph Pakiz will be celebrant. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the service, with a 10:15 a.m. Rosary, at the church. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower.
Mary Gornick, 94, a lifelong Soudan resident, died Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000, in Soudan.
She was born July 12, 1906, in Soudan, to Frank and Mary (Malensek) Gornick and attended Soudan schools. She was a deeply religious person who said many daily rosaries. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower, was a member of its kitchen workers, and did all the weddings for years. She was also past secretary for Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge No. 55. She was a quiet person, always devoted to her family. She enjoyed children immensely and spent many hours baby-sitting and spoiling her family because “no” was never in her vocabulary. She did housekeeping for private families in Iowa and the Jasper Peak Tower Firewatch for 17 years. Many people comment today on how they visited her at Jasper Peak, and she let them look through the binoculars. She enjoyed gardening, canning, embroidery, and church life. She enjoyed good jokes, was very witty, and liked to “pull a fast one” on people. She cared for her mother for more than 10 years at home before she died.
She is survived by two brothers, Matt Gornick of Soudan and Martin Gornick of Tower.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank, on Nov. 22, 1947; her mother, Mary, on March 11, 1989; brothers, Anthony in 1939, Frank in December 1989, Joseph on Nov. 19, 1995, and Frances in January 1999.
Henry G. Schall
Henry G. Schall, 92, SERVICES: Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Bear River Lutheran Church. The Rev. Peter Satren will be officiant. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Burial will be in the Morcom Cemetery in Bear River.
Henry G. Schall, 92, of Togo, died Monday, Oct. 16, 2000, at the Cook Hospital.
He was born Jan 29, 1908, in Keewatin, to Sam and Anna (Berg) Schall. He moved with his family to Bear River in 1913, and had worked in the mines in Hibbing for two years. He moved to Osseo, Minn., in 1926, and married Irene Seibert there on Dec. 14, 1932. He had a rural ice route in the Osseo area for 12 years. He and Irene moved to Togo in 1946, where they lived since. He was a custodian for the Togo school for 25 years. He drove a school bus to Alango for four years, then to Bigfork for 20 years for School District No. 318. He retired in 1973, then worked in the woods. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Irene; one son, Dale (Cindy) Schall of Togo; two sisters, Hilda Reinking of Minneapolis, and Bertha Chase of Minneapolis; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Evelyn Adams in 1991, and Shirley Rahier in 2000; one grandson, Jim Rahier in 1978; one brother, Isaac Schall; two sisters, Emma Hanson, and Clara Baudeck; son-in-law, Gerald Rahier in 1993.
George B. Costello
George B. Costello, 82, SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial will 11 a.m. Tuesday at Resurrection Catholic Church in Eveleth with Rev. Eamonn Boland and Msgr. Patrick McDowell co-celebrating. Visitation will be one hour before services at the church. Interment, at a later date, will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery of Minneapolis. Arrangements are by Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home in Eveleth.
George B. Costello, 82, of Leonidas died Thursday, March 29, 2001, at the Virginia Regional Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 18, 1918, in Superior to Mike and Mary Louise (O’Brien) Costello. He was raised in Iron River, Wis., and graduated from Iron River High School. George served in World War II, first in infantry and then in the Army Air Corp. He was discharged as a technical sergeant on Oct. 31, 1945. He was a prisoner of war in Germany from May 28, 1944, until April 29, 1945. After employment at Coolerator in Duluth and other jobs, he began work for U.S. Steel at the Extaca plant in 1951 and in 1967 worked at Minntac until his retirement in 1980. George married Ethel Mae Bergeron on Sept. 5, 1959, in Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing. They have continued to live in Leonidas and spent several winters in Arizona. He was an active fisherman until later years when bowling and golf became his favorite sports. He made seven holes-in-one. He was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church, lifetime 3rd degree Knights of Columbus Frank A. Mancina Council No. 2583, lifetime DAV Chapter 23 in Virginia, lifetime member of the National POW and member of the local Arrowhead POW in Eveleth, past member of Westside Civic League, Eveleth Men’s golf league, Men’s senior league, mayor of Leonidas and had participated several years in the Senior Olympics in Duluth for golf. Piano playing was one of his many loves.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel; three daughters, Kathleen Costello of Maple Grove, Minn., Nora (John) Mattei of Virginia and Mary (Joe) Tersteeg of St. Louis, Mo.; two granddaughters, Ashton and Megan Jo Tersteeg of St. Louis; two sisters, Mary (Evert) Salo of Winona, Minn., and Peg Costello of Eagles Nest Lake, Ely; sister-in-law, Suzanne Costello of Iron River, Wis., and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, William, John and Tom Costello; and his first wife, Evelyn Majchrzak in 1958.
Geraldine Anne Grigas
Geraldine Anne Grigas, 76, SERVICES: A graveside service was held at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Westmont, Ill. on Friday. Memorials in her name may be made to area chapters of the National Kidney Foundation or the Cancer Research Center. Funeral arrangements were made by the Marengo-Union Funeral Home.
Geraldine Anne Grigas, 76, died Monday, March 26, 2001, at Valley-Hi Nursing Home in Woodstock, Ill., after a lengthy illness.
She was born in Cicero, Ill., on Nov. 28, 1924, to Joseph and Anna (Juracek) Braza. She served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II as a seaman first class. She married Peter Grigas on June 5, 1948, in Worchester, Mass. She was a past secretary for Reynolds Metals Retirement Association, and a former member of St. Cletus Catholic Church in La Grange.
Survivors include two daughters, Catherine (Bruce) Hiveley and Linda Kvidera; grandchildren, Bruce Henry Hiveley and Bryan Joseph Hiveley, and Michael Peter Kvidera and Jennifer Lynn Langton; great-grandchildren, Micheal Ryan Hiveley and Melissa Kathryn Hiveley; and a brother, Richard Joseph (Beulah Gibson) Braza.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 50 years.
Stephanie D. Williams
Stephanie D. Williams, 15, SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Virginia, with the Rev. John O’Donnell as celebrant. Visitation one hour prior to service at the church. Arrangements are by Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia. Memorials are preferred.
Stephanie D. Williams, 15, of Virginia died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at the Virginia Regional Medical Center as a result of a motor vehicle accident west of Biwabik on Highway 135. Her mother, Joni, and her cousin, Anne Finnegan, also died.
She was born on Oct. 10, 1985, in Fridley, Minn., to Michael J. and Joni S. (Pepelnjak) Williams and had been a lifelong Virginia resident.
Stephanie was in the 9th grade at Virginia Secondary School and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church of Virginia. She loved tennis, softball, figure skating, snowboarding and water skiing.
Survivors include her father, Michael, of Virginia; brother, Jesse, at home; grandfather, John W. “Bill’’ Pepelnjak Jr., of Lake Eshquagama, Gilbert; grandmother, Jeanne Pepelnjak, of Virginia; grandparents, Jon and Zora Williams of Eveleth; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandparents, John and Rena Pepeljnak, and George and Charolette Kobylinski.
Joni S. Williams
Joni S. Williams, 37, SERVICES: Mass of Christian Burial 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Virginia, with the Rev. John O’Donnell as celebrant. Visitation one hour prior to service at the church. Arrangements are by the Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia. Memorials are preferred.
Joni S. Williams, 37, of Virginia died Saturday, March 31, 2001, as a result of a motor vehicle accident west of Biwabik on Highway 135. Her daughter, Stephanie, and her niece, Anne Finnegan, also died.
She was born on June 30, 1963, in Virginia to John W. “Bill’’ and Jeanne (Kobylinksi) Pepelnjak and had been a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of Virginia High School and the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. She married Michael J. Williams on April 27, 1985, in Virginia. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia and St. Catherine’s Alumni Association, was a massage therapist and was into spiritual healing and holistic medicine, and loved hunting and fishing.
Survivors include her husband, Michael, of Virginia; son, Jesse, at home; dad and hunting partner, John W. “Bill’’ Pepelnjak, of Lake Eshquagama, Gilbert; mother, Jeanne Pepelnjak, of Virginia; two sisters, Jayne (Mark) Dewhurst of Virginia and Kelly (Peter) Finnegan of Duluth; a brother, John Pepelnjak III, of Virginia; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
