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Brenda Lee Meier
Brenda Lee Meier, 50, SERVICES: Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service Friday at the Range Funeral Home in Virginia. Burial will be in Forbes Cemetery.
Brenda Lee Meier, 50, of Zim, died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at her home.
Brenda was born Dec. 1, 1954, to Richard and Grace (Haasl) Mahal in Ladysmith, Wis. Her family moved to Babbitt when she was a year old. She grew up there and graduated from Babbitt High School Class of 1973. Brenda was united in marriage to Todd Meier on Jan. 4, 1974, in Huron, S.D. Following marriage the couple lived throughout the United States and Germany while Todd was serving in the military. She worked as a secretary for the United States Army while living in Germany. Brenda and Todd moved back to the Iron Range in 1990 and resided in Zim. She worked as the manager for At Your Convenience gas station for several years. She was very proud of her family and adored her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed gardening and cooking.
Surviving are her husband, Todd; daughter, Shana (Eric Salminen) Meier of Minneapolis; two sons, Jye (Jessica) Meier of Virginia, Cory (Joslyn) Meier of Virginia; five sisters, Diane (Al) Soxman of Babbitt, Linda (Butch) Erickson of Belen, N.M., Sue (Daryl) Lien of Hoyt Lakes, Elaine (Mitch) Lee of Hibbing, Mary Therese (Craig) Siiro of Bloomington; brother, Doug (Norma) Mahal of Lake City; parents, Richard (Grace) Mahal of Babbitt; mother-in-law, Dorothy Meier of Virginia; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Jennifer Lynn; her father-in-law, Louis Meier; and a nephew, Terry Soxman.
Phyllis V. Isakson
Phyllis V. Isakson, 95, SERVICES: Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. The Rev. Elton Brown will officiate. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Hoyt Lakes Memorial Cemetery.
Phyllis V. Isakson, 95, of Hoyt Lakes, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005, at her residence.
She was born Sept. 1, 1909, in Floodwood, to Charles and Essie (McKay) Bartz. She was a graduate of Morgan Park High School and married Paul Isakson on March 11, 1929, in Duluth. In 1971, the Isaksons moved to Hoyt Lakes. Phyllis was a homemaker, an avid bowler and was instrumental in organizing the Hoyt Lakes Senior Citizens and the Meals-on-Wheels program.
Survivors include her children, Joan (Howard) Manning of Great Mill, M.D., Gail (Harry) Glover of Hoyt Lakes, John P. Isakson of Hoyt Lakes and Judy (John) Gervasio of Hoyt Lakes; daughter-in-law, Shirley Isakson of Hermantown; brother, John Bartz of San Diego, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Helen Douglas of Carlton and Helen Bartz of Duncanville, Texas; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; son, Donald; brothers, Stuart, Tom and Alric; sister, Bernice Bartz.
Lars R. Lavine
Lars R. Lavine, 53, SERVICES: Memorial service 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. The Rev. Randy Swenson will be the officiant. A time of fellowship of family and friends will continue after the service, along with a lunch, all at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Cook Community Cemetery.
Lars R. Lavine, 53, of Cook, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at his residence.
He was born on Jan. 18, 1952, at Anchorage, Alaska. He grew up in Aurora, graduating from the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1970, where he was on the football and basketball teams. He then attended and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, earning a degree in recreational and area management in 1974. He was an avid outdoorsman and skier, including being a ski instructor for a time at Giants Ridge. Lars resided in Cook the past 22 years. He enjoyed the building, operating and time spent at Timbuktu Resort, the family resort on Lake Vermilion that his mother named. He was employed as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service in several states, and most recently with the U.S. Forest Service based in Cook. He liked spending time with friends and family, especially his nieces and nephews, and in his younger days spent memorable times hunting with his father and grandfather. Lars’ love of nature and never ending sense of humor and kindness to all will be remembered and missed by family and friends.
He is survived by his father, Richard “Dick” Lavine of Prescott, Ariz., and Lake Vermilion-Cook; two sisters, Linda (Gary) Rice of Iowa City, Iowa, and Nancy (Steve) Fogelberg of Cook; and seven nieces and nephews, Amy (Steve) Stepec, Nels and Lindi Fogelberg, Laura (Eric) Blantz, Craig Rice and Kate and Nora Lawrenson.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn “Evie” Lavine, on July 6, 1992.
Gilbert ‘Pela’ Anderson
Gilbert ‘Pela’ Anderson, 87, SERVICES: Visitation will be held Tuesday from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. services at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower. The Rev. Aaron Lofgren will officiate. Spring interment, with military honors accorded by the Nelson-Jackson American Legion Post No. 245, will be in the Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Memorials are preferred. Family services provided by Bauman-Vermilion, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower. To share a personal remembrance of Pela online, please see www.baumanfuneralhome.com.
Gilbert “Pela” Anderson, 87, of Tower died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, in St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. He was born March 6, 1917, in Tower, the son of Harry and Signe (Anderson) Anderson and was a lifelong resident of Tower.
Pela was a United States Navy veteran of World War II, serving with the Seabees in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He married Ellen Marttila on Aug. 25, 1940, in Ely. He was employed as a Mechanic Foreman for the St. Louis County Highway Maintenance Department, was the owner/operator of Anderson’s Landscaping Service, and had hauled ice, wood and coal in his younger years. Pela enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on Lake Vermilion, hunting, fishing, watching deer, cooking, and enjoyed watching sports, especially football and basketball on TV. His favorite activities revolved around the time spent with his family.
Pela is survived by his wife of 64 years, Ellen; children, Terry (Sharon) Anderson of Ely, Darrell (Gail) Anderson of Circle Pines, and Jill (Rick) Phillips of Eveleth; siblings, Gladyce Johnson of Hermantown, Glenn (Carol) Anderson of Scandia, Minn. and Donna Mickelson of Virginia; grandchildren, David (Lori) Anderson of Duluth, Cheryl (Ron) Groth of Minocqua, Wis., Holly and Rachel Phillips of Eveleth, and Kimberly Anderson of Circle Pines; great-grandchildren, Joe, Shanna, Ben and Andrew; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter in infancy; brother, Byron; and sister, Florence Pengal.
Kurt Schumacher
Kurt Schumacher, 53, of Crooked Lake, died unexpectedly, Thursday, April 12, 2012, at his home.
He was born September 8, 1958, to Lee and Juanita (VanSickel) Schumacher in Brainerd, Minn., where he grew up and graduated from Brainerd High School in 1976. Kurt moved to northeastern Minnesota where he operated the Crooked Lake Resort with his parents and also helped build the Trestle Inn. Kurt loved the Crooked Lake area so much that he liked to tell people he went camping in 1976 and never went home. He married Patty Aldinger on April 5, 1986, in Tofte and on that date three years later his son Nathan was born. Kurt worked briefly at Don Ewalds, did some cooking for Wally and Bonnie Tikkanen, fire watch for USFS, and held a job at Reserve Mining for a few years before settling at Crooked Lake full time. Kurt was a volunteer EMT for the Lake County Finland Rescue for 12 years and was a ski patrol on Lutsen Mountain for three seasons. Kurt had a way of saying things that left nothing to the imagination about his feelings. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, hunting, and was a devoted Vikings fan.
Kurt is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Hilton and Marie VanSickel; paternal grandparents Herbert and Lillie Schumache; and an uncle, Col. William Rice.
He is survived by his wife Patty; son Nate; parents Lee and Juanita Schumacher; brother Dan (Delinda) Schumacher; nephews Shane (Leann) Schumacher, Nick, and Brett; nieces Courtney, Myrinda, and Jeramie; aunts Nancy Rice and Pat Lane; uncle Bob Lane; and cousins Mark, Keith, Sue, Jim, and Kim.
He is sadly missed by his good buddy Jake who was always there to greet him every morning.
Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the 1 p.m. memorial service on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at the Clair Nelson Center in Finland.
Margaret J. Jannetta
Margaret Jane (Miller) Jannetta, 92, of Duluth, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, at the Benedictine Health Center with her family by her side.
Miggs, the only child of Arthur B. and Marie (Sullivan) Miller was born on July 15, 1920, in Minneapolis. The family moved to Duluth when she was three years old. She graduated from Stanbrook Hall at the College of St. Scholastica in 1938 and from Ogontz College in Philadelphia in 1940.
Miggs married Robert Jannetta on Oct. 9, 1944. They lived in Silver Bay for many years where they raised their four children and enjoyed many rounds of golf. Following Bob’s death she moved back to Duluth, where she lived until her death.
Miggs was a unique and wonderful woman, greatly loved by her family. She loved sports, politics, history, and always maintained her intellectual curiosity. She had a quick sense of humor and her grandchildren enjoyed many meaningful conversations with her throughout their lives. She will live in our hearts forever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; and her son, Robert.
Survivors include her children, James (Sally McKechnie) Jannetta of Bellingham, WA, Jo Anne Jannetta Cooperman of St. Paul, MN; Molly Cahill Haugen of Duluth; her grandchildren, Jesse Jannetta, Nick Jannetta, Rebecca Cooperman Kay, Kati Cooperman, Sarah Cooperman, Maggie Cahill Reed and Jane Cahill Poole; nine great grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of The Rosary. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral in the church.
Direct memorials to Calvary Cemetery, 4820 Howard Gnesen Road. Duluth, Minn. 55803.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Duluth.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555.
Jeno Paulucci, Duluth and Iron Range business icon, dies
Four days after losing his beloved wife of more than 64 years, Jeno Paulucci died at his Duluth home on Thanksgiving morning. He was 93.
“Once my mother passed, my father was determined to be with her,” Selton said. “That was his wish, to be with Lois.”
Former Duluth Mayor Gary Doty, who is scheduled to deliver the eulogy at Lois Paulucci’s funeral on Monday, was stunned when he heard the news.
“What a tragedy, to lose two people like that in such a short time,” Doty said.
Doty recalled that in his first run for office, Paulucci backed his opponent. Yet the two men became close friends, particularly in later years. And while “he had a reputation as a very tough man,” Doty remembered Paulucci for his kindness.
“If there were people in need, I could call Jeno, and he never turned it down,” Doty said.
He also talked about the Pauluccis as a couple. “Lois understood Jeno,” Doty said. “She understood that Jeno was in charge of his business and he was going to do what he was going to do. (But) when they were together, Jeno deferred to Lois.”
They would have been married 65 years in February, said Selton, one of the couple’s three children. “He was the most incredible man in the world,” she said of her father. “He was a fantastic husband, and a wonderful, wonderful father.”
Although Paulucci was known worldwide, he said in a 2003 interview that he viewed himself as a poor kid from Hibbing. “I’m just a peddler from the Iron Range,” he said.
Paulucci built several food empires, including Chun King, Jeno’s Inc. and Luigino’s Inc. (now known as Michelina’s Inc.).
But he didn’t fit any mold. “Sometimes it’s a little hard to figure out who he is,” friend and former employee Don Mason once said.
Jeno could be a giving, loyal friend or a feared enemy who fired employees at will, skewered opponents with obscenities or took out full-page newspaper ads denouncing people and policies he disagreed with. His temper was the stuff of many stories. “I’ve never gone through life worrying what people think of me,” Jeno said.
He frequently settled disputes in court. Usually they dealt with business matters, not always. In 2005 he sued his own daughter, Gina Paulucci.
But he also had a generous side. He set up a foundation to help the poor. He often helped friends in need. He contributed countless hours to using his influence with the powerful for the betterment of Duluth and Sanford, Fla., where he lived during the winter.
Humble beginnings
The man everyone knew as Jeno was born July 7, 1918, in Aurora. His mother, Michelina, and father, Ettore, Italian immigrants, named him Luigino Francesco Paolucci.
His father was an iron miner who was injured during Jeno’s childhood and couldn’t work.
After the family, including his older sister, Elizabeth, moved to Hibbing, he lived in poverty and amid the chaos of an illegal drinking establishment in his own house. He picked up coal spilled along the railroad tracks to heat the house.
He started in the food business at age 12 at the Daylight Economy Market in Hibbing.
After graduating from Hibbing High School in 1935, first he sold groceries for C.A. Pearson Wholesale and then became a traveling salesman for St. Paul-based wholesale grocer Hancock Nelson Mercantile, where he claims he earned more money than the company’s owner.
Nine years later, he began growing bean sprouts in Duluth, and then founded Duluth-based Chun King, a line of canned Chinese food.
Jeno would do almost anything to sell his products. He and friends tell a classic tale about his efforts to sell to the Food Fair grocery chain in 1948, where he had lost an account.
Jeno’s autobiography tells the tale like this: The chain’s top buyer agreed to compare Chun King’s products with a competitor’s. Jeno opened a can of Chun King Chinese vegetables and was horrified to find a dead grasshopper.
Before the buyer could see or take a sample, Jeno popped the grasshopper into his mouth with some vegetables and swallowed. The buyer was none the wiser and Food Fair became one of Chun King’s biggest customers.
He called his autobiography “Sometimes You Have to Eat the Grasshopper.”
Egg rolls to pizza rolls
In 1966, Jeno sold Chun King to R.J. Reynolds Foods Inc. for $63 million.
Two years later, he became the first chairman of R.J. Reynolds Food Co. But corporate culture didn’t agree with his independent spirit and he soon went back to building another business of his own that he called Jeno’s Inc.
The new company made a popular new frozen finger-food snack called pizza rolls and, at one time, grew to be Duluth’s largest employer.
In 1985, he sold Jeno’s to Pillsbury for $135 million.
Then he turned his attention to Florida real estate, where he built the planned community of Heathrow, near Orlando, from the ground up.
He sold it in 1992 for $50 million plus an undisclosed settlement from a lawsuit over the deal.
Jeno was 72 in 1990 when his noncompete agreement with Pillsbury expired and he began yet another company, Luigino’s Inc., which made frozen, microwaveable entrees and snacks.
Age didn’t deter Jeno from working long days and a punishing schedule to build the company into what was estimated in 2004 to be a $300 million-a-year-plus firm with international scope.
In 2004, he turned over the day-to-day operations to his management team, but he said emphatically he was not retiring. Instead, he said he wanted to build yet another food company.
Jeno also had business flops. In the 1960s, he gave up on his Wilderness Valley Farms, which grew vegetables for Chun King near Zim.
Pizza Kwik — a company that sold equipment and ingredients to pizzerias — and China Kwik, based on the same concept, failed, he said in his autobiography.
Nine of his 10 Pasta Lovers restaurants closed, as did Pasta Bowl Inc.
In the 2003 interview, he said that a guess of a half-billion dollars for his net worth was “in the ballpark.”
Never part of establishment
Jeno’s independence kept him from becoming part of the Duluth establishment.
Even so, he created, or had a strong hand in creating, half a dozen or more civic organizations, including Northeast Minnesota Organization for Economic Education, the Jeno & Lois Paulucci Family Foundation and the National Italian American Foundation.
He worked on community projects such as helping local youth hockey teams and spearheading the Minnesota Taconite Amendment as a way to save the iron mining industry. In 2006, he continued his long-term campaign to raise the federal minimum wage, which he called “a damned disgrace at $5.15 an hour.”
He considered his work to make the Duluth Arena-Auditorium (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) a reality to be his greatest public service.
Jeno was chairman for Nixon nationwide in 1972. A political independent, he said he had advisory relationships with seven U.S. presidents. He headed flood and earthquake relief efforts in Italy in 1976 and 1980 on behalf of the United States.
He once convinced officials of Ernst & Young’s World Entrepreneur of the Year competition to conduct a debate among finalists about how to use their economic influence for world peace.
The Paulucci Family Foundation, according to the IRS Form 990 filed for 2004 (the most recent available), had $2.2 million in funds. Publicly, the foundation has financed a large portion of Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park and donated holiday turkeys to local food shelves. Much of its work has been done privately.
“He shares his good fortune with his friends,” high school chum Tom Dougherty of Dougherty Funeral Home in Duluth said in a News Tribune interview once. Jeno treated him and several friends to many hunting and fishing trips as far away as the Northwest Territories in Canada.
Jeno also flew former classmates to Hibbing High School class of 1935 reunions — classmates who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend.
He performed many other unpublicized acts of charity, from taking on workers who weren’t considered employable to helping rehabilitate convicted felons.
Jeno Paulucci is survived by son Michael J. (Joan) Paulucci of Palm Coast, Fla.; daughters Cynthia (Robert) Selton of Longwood, Fla., and Gina Paulucci of Wayzata, Minn.; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
