Search Archived Marriage Records
Reinhard R. Gruber
Reinhard R. 'Reiny' Gruber, who lived in Proctor for 52 years and was a machinist helper for Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway from 1948 until retirement in 1978, died Tues., Mar. 16, 2004 in his Ramsey Townhouses home in Duluth. He was 89.
He was born and attended school in Pierz. Reiny moved to Proctor in 1948. He married Cora Marie Virnig on June 6, 1938 in Lastrup, Minn. He had farmed in the Pierz area in earlier years before moving to Proctor. Reiny was an active member of St. Rose Catholic Parish, N.A.R.V.R.E., and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He had many hobbies, which included traveling, gardening, fishing, hunting, playing cards, and spending time with his family and grandchildren. His favorite hobby was playing the concertina. In earlier years, he had a concertina dance band in Pierz.
Reiny was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Janice Lutzka, a son-in-law Ronald Lutzka, and brothers Arthur and Ernest Gruber.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years Cora, sons Harlan (Judy) of Appleton, Wis., Gerald (Mindy) of Long Beach, Calif., and Michael of Santa Barbara, Calif., a daughter Barbara (Steve) LaFlamme of Duluth, a brother Melvin (Leona) Gruber of Pierz, a sister LaVern Fleckenstein of Mt. Angel, Ore., a sister-in-law Verna Gruber of Little Falls, Minn., 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial fund in Reinhard's name has been established at St. Rose Catholic Church.
Entombment will be at Sunrise Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hermantown.
Adele Bergleot Engstrom Wickstrom
Adele Bergleot Engstrom Wickstrom, who was born in Proctor and was a lifelong resident, died Thurs., Mar. 25, 2004, in Lakeshore Lutheran Home. She was 91.
She was born June 16, 1912, to Olaf and Marie (Olsen) Christensen. She graduated from Proctor High School in 1932. Adele worked at Nopeming Nursing Home, Western Electric, and Diamond Tool for 5 years. She was a member of Women of the Moose #585, Proctor Women's Bowling League, the Proctor Ladies Walking Club, a 55-year member of the Rebecca Lodge, Spirit Valley Senior Club, Railview Action Club, and the Hillside Golden Age Club. For over 25 years, Adele volunteered in community services. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Adele is preceded in death by her husbands, John Engstrom in 1944 and Elmer Wickstrom in 1973, brothers Vernon, Harland, and Glenn Christensen, and granddaughter Judy.
Surviving are her sons Jerry (Sharon) Engstrom of Shoreview, Minn., Roger (Teddy) Engstrom of McGregor, Darrel Wickstrom of Barnum and Dale Wickstrom of Munger, daughters Nancy A. (Jesse) Smith of Ore. and Calif., Joan Loyer of Grand Rapids, Jean Ekholm of Esko, Beverly Nielson of Onamia, and Jane Haugdahl of Mpls., 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Monday. Burial in Oneota Cemetery.
Memoriams to Proctor Historical Society, 100 Pionk drive, Proctor, MN 55810.
Vincent Henry Johnson Jr.
Vincent Henry Johnson Jr., who was a lifelong Munger area resident and a 1947 Proctor graduate, died Mar. 22, 2004. He was 75.
He was born to Vincent and Bertha Johnson of Munger, Minn. He served in the Minnesota National Guard RCAT (Radio Controlled Aircraft Target) Division. He married Lillian C. Lindberg in 1958 and worked in the building trades and was a member of the Carpenters Local Union until his retirement in 1991. An avid fisherman and hunter, he enjoyed the outdoors and traveling. He was a lifelong member of Hope Lutheran Church, Munger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John, and his infant daughter.
Survivors include his sons Kevin (Julie) of St. Paul, Kim (Kay) of Cloquet, and Keith (Nancy) of Lester Prairie, and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held last week at Hope Lutheran Church.
Donna Marie Griffith
Donna Marie Griffith, who taught fifth grade at Pike Lake Elementary for seventeen years, died Fri., Mar. 12, 2004, in the Holmes Regional Medical Center of Melbourne, Fla. She was known as 'Mrs. G' to her students and had a profound influence on many of their lives. Donna loved teaching and retired in 1995 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She was 69.
A former Hermantown resident, Donna was born in Superior, Wis. She attended elementary school and high school in Superior's East End, graduating from East High in 1952. Donna enlisted in the Air Force in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1957.
She is survived by her husband of forty-eight years Joe, two sons, four grandchildren, a sister, and several nieces and nephews.
Her ashes were placed in a niche in Arlington National Cemetery, Va.
Robert Erickson
Services will be held today for Robert Erickson, 73, of Proctor, who died Tues., March 30, 2004, in his home with his family at his side, after a long illness.
Bob was born in Duluth to Bernard and Rose (Grieten) Erickson on August 10, 1930. Bob graduated from Proctor High School in 1948 and served in the Army and Army Reserves from 1949 to 1954. Bob retired from the DM&IR as a locomotive engineer in 1989 which dubbed him 'Rubber Belly' in is early years.
Bob was a member of the Proctor Moose, St. Rose Catholic Church, past commander and manager of the Proctor American Legion. Bob loved being at the cabin on Sunset Lake with his family. He had special times with his children at the opening of fishing. They played cribbage and planned the events for months ahead of time. Bob loved to cook, play the organ, and piloting his pontoon boat. Bob married his beloved Geraldine Kessler on Sept. 29, 1951.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, a son, James, in 1985, a brother, Dale, and a sister, Delores Szymialis, and four step siblings.
Surviving are his wife, Geraldine; his children, Thomas (Marilyn) of Cass Lake, Ronald (Ann) of Duluth, Jeffrey (Bonnie) of Hermantown, David (Carol) of Princeton, Barb (Dan) Strand of Saginaw, and Tim of Proctor: 15 grandchildren: a sister, June Whann of Cedar City Utah.
Visitation will be from 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial Thurs. in St. Rose Catholic Church in Proctor.
Burial will be in Oneota Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.
Clarence W. Ecklund
Clarence W. Ecklund of Twig, who was a charter member of the Twig VFW and had owned and operated Ecklund Brothers Construction with his brother for over 30 years, died Tues., Mar. 30, 2004, after a brief illness with brain cancer. He was 84.
He was born on May 19, 1919 in Duluth to Herman and Cora (O'Leary) Ecklund. Clarence was a lifelong Twig resident. He retired in 1985. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific. He and Charlotte were married on June 14, 1947 in Duluth. Clarence was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Twig, and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. He loved hunting, the outdoors and spending time with his grandchildren. Clarence was blessed with many friends who he enjoyed sharing stories with at coffee and lunch.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Orville, Robert, Harold and Kenneth and sisters Irene Bourcy and Dorothy Ecklund.
Survivors include his wife Charlotte, children Randy (Jane) of Fredenberg Township, Susie (Lee) Hieb of Twig and Scott (Stacy) of Proctor, grandchildren Eric (Pam) Ecklund, Randi (Matt) Golden, Brandon, Adam and Jenna Hieb and Casie and Ian Ecklund, step-grandchildren, Lindsey and Shilyn, great-grandchildren Logan and Megan Ecklund and Zachary Golden, and many nieces and nephews.
Service was held in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Twig. Pastor Larry Anderson and Rev. Marshall Moen officiated. Inurnment will be in Grand Lake Cemetery. Military honors were accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.
Delbert J. MacIntyre
Lorraine (James) Erkkila of Proctor is saddened by the death of her brother Delbert J. 'Mac' MacIntyre. The Duluth resident died Sat., Apr. 3, 2004, at his residence after a long illness. He was 66.
He was born Apr. 1, 1938 in Duluth to Robert J. and Viola A. (Tillman) MacIntyre. Mac attended Hermantown High School and then joined the U.S. Marines. He worked as a salesman, retiring early due to a heart condition.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert D. MacIntyre.
Mac is also survived by his brother Morgan of Hermantown, two other sisters Leora (John) Busch and Marge (Richard) McGreevy, both of Duluth, uncle and aunt Lloyd and Shirley Tillman of Duluth, special friend Danielle John of Duluth, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Service was Monday at the Cremation Society of Minnesota Chapel with Pastor Jack Heidenreich officiating. Military rites will be accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.
Lyle K. (Buck) McClaire
Shirley Capin of Proctor is in bereavement following the death of her son-in-law Lyle K. (Buck) McClaire of Lansing, Ill., formerly of Duluth. He passed away Wed., Mar. 10, 2004, at the age of 69.
He was the son of James and Elizabeth McClaire who preceded him in death. Buck retired from the United States Custom Department, was an Army veteran and served in the Korean Conflict.
He is also survived by his wife Cleo, daughter Stacey (James) Foresta, son Kevin (Lorraine) McClaire; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and four sisters.
Interment at a later date in Sunrise Memorial Cemetery in Duluth.
Albert John Swenson
Albert John Swenson, who was born on the family homestead and was a lifelong resident of Saginaw, died Wed., Mar. 31, 2004, at Bayshore Health Center. He was 91.
The Industrial Rd. resident was born Mar. 8, 1913 to John August and Ingrid Kristine (Magnuson) Swenson. Albert was a farmer, and he was a lifelong member of New Life Covenant Church of Twig. He married Hannah Armstrong in Aug., 1978. Albert loved his farming and gardening. Family and friends were very important to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents John and Kristine, brothers Carl and Ted Swenson, and sister Edith McArthur.
Survivors include his wife Hannah, five nieces, including Florence McArthur of Saginaw, and Pearl (Fred) Harmon of Sandstone, Minn., four nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, eight stepchildren, 19 grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Services were held earlier in the week at New Life Covenant Church of Twig, with Pastor Bradley Shannon officiating.
Burial will be in Sunrise Memorial Park Cemetery, Hermantown.
