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Edward G. Schafer Jr.
Architect
Edward G. Schafer Jr., a longtime Duluth architect, died Saturday, April 7, 2001, in St. Luke's Hospital.
He was born to Edward and Anna Schafer near Rochester, N.Y., where he grew up and graduated from high school.
He served in the Army before moving to Duluth and pitched for the Superior Blues and later the Duluth Dukes. He was able to pitch to many players in the Northern League, including Hank Aaron. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1966 and was a self-employed architect from 1973 until 1999.
Some of his favorite projects, including his dream office of the Endion Station, were the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, City Center West, the Senior Center in Superior and his employment at the Duluth Children's Museum, where he enjoyed working with the staff and the children he loved so much.
He was a member of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, its Be Friender Ministry, the church council, and was very active with Skyline Rotary Club, where he initiated and chaired the Health, Hunger and Humanities Program, working in Senegal, India, Egypt, Jamaica and Haiti. Besides enjoying hunting and fishing with friends and family, Ed was active with the Navy League and coached Little League baseball for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jean Bach.
He is survived by his wife, Dona; children Lynn (Heinz) Linde of Los Crusas, N.M., Shawn (Kevin) O'Dougherty of Arden Hills, Minn., and Steve and Scott, both of Duluth; a brother, Raymond (Liz) of Tucson, Ariz.; and grandchildren John, Erin and Lauren.
Visitation: 5:30 until the 7 p.m. service of celebration today in Bell Brothers Chapel. Service 1 p.m. Wednesday in Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors, Bell Brothers Chapel, 601 N. 56th Ave. W.
William Robert Hughes
William Robert Hughes, 62, of North 22nd Avenue West died Friday, April 6, 2001, in St. Luke's Hospital.
He was born June 18, 1938, to LeRoy and Lillian (Pratt) Hughes in Minneapolis. William graduated from Minneapolis West High School in 1956 and was a Navy veteran having served in the Pacific. He married
Donna Paulson on Dec. 3, 1960, in Duluth. He was an engineer for Honeywell for many years.
William was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the VFW, Masonic Temple and a former member of Hilltop Lions.
He was preceded in death by his father, LeRoy in 1974.
William is survived by his wife, Donna; a son, Scott (Kris) of Duluth; and his mother, Lillian of Venice, Fla.
Visitation: 10 until the 11 a.m. service Thursday in Fred Olson Mortuary Chapel. Burial in Sunrise Memorial Park.
Jorma Wilhalm Waananen
Jorma Wilhalm Waananen, 84, of East Tenth Street passed away Sunday, April 8, 2001, in St. Mary's Hospice.
He was born in Ely, moved to Virginia as a boy and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1935. He was a captain in the Air Force, flying B-17s during World War II and serving in the European Theatre. Jorma married
Leona Andersen on June 27, 1947, in Duluth. He worked for Garon Brothers Jewelers for 35 years as a watchmaker, which was located in Glass Block.
He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Men's Club, American Legion Post 342, VFW Post 137 and the Duluth Ski Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lempi and Otto Waananen, and a sister, Irma Parsinen.
He is survived by his wife, Leona; daughters Mary Magers and Betty (Gary) Rommel, both of Rochester, and Carol (Bill) Simetkosky of Eveleth; a son, Jay (Sirpa) of Chico, Calif.; sisters Betty Parsinen and Ingred Jensen; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; nieces; and nephews.
Memorial service: 1 p.m. Thursday in Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Sippola officiating. Burial in Bethany cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church would be appreciated. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors, Jarvi-Dowd Chapel, 925 East Fourth St.
Hazel H. Born
Hazel H. Born, formerly of King Manor died Sunday, April 8, 2001, in Lakeshore Lutheran Home.
She was born in Duluth to John and Anna (Gustafson) Hall. Hazel graduated from Central High School and lived in Detroit for 30 years and in Tucson, Ariz., for 10 years.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Duluth.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Born, on March 12, 1973; brothers Homer and Harry Hall; and sisters Helen Benson, Hannah Freeman and an infant sister.
She is survived by her special niece, Meredith (Bob) Magnuson of Two Harbors and many nieces and nephews.
Service: 1 p.m. Wednesday in Fred Olson Mortuary Chapel, 2110 W. First St., Duluth. Burial in Union cemetery, Hermantown.
Marie "Mary" Anderson Nelson
Marie "Mary" Anderson Nelson, 92, of Duluth, formerly of Gilliat Street and Solon Springs, died Thursday, April 12, 2001, in the Benedictine Health Care Center.
She was born Oct. 25, 1908, to Peter and Clara Olson in Superior. Mary owned and operated the Great Lakes Transfer Co. after the death of her husband, Arthur E. Anderson. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Superior, the Superior Sons of Norway Noronna Lodge, a former member of Rockmont Garden Club, and a former volunteer at the Middle River Nursing facility.
Mary was preceded in death by her first husband, Arthur E. Anderson, in 1952; her second husband, Peter B. Nelson, in 1998; a granddaughter, Trudy Lord; two sisters and three brothers.
She is survived by daughters Marian Sundal and Judith (Bill) Lord, both of Duluth, and Bette K. Naslund of Coon Rapids, Minn.; grandchildren Randy, Ric and Lisa Sundal, Terry Bronniche, Scott and Wm Lord, Brian Naslund and Kelly Naslund-Pudwill; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and a sister-in-law, Marie Olson of Superior.
Visitation: 12:30 until the 1:30 p.m. memorial service Monday in Benedictine Health Care Center. Burial in Forest Hill cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Benedictine Health Care Center or Concordia Lutheran Church, Superior. Arrangements by Johnson Mortuary.
Gertrude "Ione" (Tenario) Grasser
Gertrude "Ione" (Tenario) Grasser passed away Sunday, April 8, 2001, in her Auburn, Calif., home.
Born July 29, 1924, in Minnesota, she was a resident of Placer County for 35 years. Ione had articles published in the Duluth News Tribune and wrote several children's stories. She helped many charity organizations, worked with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts of America, was a past editor of the Sierra College Newspaper and worked at Dewitt & Racetrack Convalescent Hospitals as a nurse. She suffered from narcolepsy but lived a full life. She enjoyed reading, writing, crocheting, knitting, quilting and sewing.
Ione is survived by her children, Danny Lee Tucker of Salt Lake City, Utah, Joe E., Donna M. and Mike J. Tenario, all of Auburn, Helena L. Pettijohn of Maysville, Mo., and Carla Tenario of Colfax, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Auburn Lassila Funeral Chapel, 551 Grass Valley Hwy., Auburn, CA 95603, (530) 885-6171.
Irene Virginia Swor
Irene Virginia Swor, 89, formerly of West Central Entrance, died Thursday, April 12, 2001, in Benedictine Health Center.
She was born June 15, 1911, in Duluth to John and Martha Novitzki. She graduated from Central High School in 1928 and from the Duluth Teachers College in 1930. Irene was a member of First Presbyterian Church and an active leader in Christian education for the Highland Presbyterian Church. Irene was a life member of the PTA and active in Duluth Heights politics. She enjoyed gardening and loved nature.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell; sons Michael, Timothy and Daniel; a grandson, Steven Calixte; and a brother, Harry Novitzki.
She is survived by daughters Claudia (Norman) Johnson of Duluth, Marianne (Fred) Calixte of Cambridge, Ohio, Evonne (Glenn) Geer of Duluth, Bonnie (Jerry) Walters of North Redington Beach, Fla.; a son, David (Michelle Stronach) Swor of Superior; 21 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Sunday in Dougherty Funeral Home. Visitation continues 1 until the 2 p.m. service Monday in First Presbyterian Church, 300 East Second St. Interment in Park Hill cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second St.
Duane Curtis Rajala
Duane Curtis Rajala, 66, of North 79th Avenue West died Saturday, March 31, 2001, in St. Mary's Hospice surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. During his last illness, he never lost his sense of humor.
He was born Dec. 30, 1934, in Duluth to Elmer and Alice (Nordlund) Rajala. He was a lifelong Duluth resident. Duane worked at Goodwill Industries for 14 years. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving in the military for nearly three years, spending 10 months in Japan.
He was a member of West Duluth American Legion Post 71. He enjoyed playing cards and liked animals, especially his dog. He had enjoyed fishing and hunting with his father in earlier years.
Duane was preceded in death by his father, Elmer in 1996; his mother, Alice in 1986; a brother, Gene in 1986; an aunt, Pearl Johnson; and uncles William and Harold Rajala and Toby Terho.
Survivors include his caregiver and cousin, Maxine (Robert) Nelson of Duluth and her family, Rebecca Nelson of Duluth, Vivian (Aethan) Hart and their son, Elias Hart of West St. Paul and Conrad (Carol) Nelson of Georgetown, Calif.; a cousin, Curtis (Mary) Johnson of Comstock Park, Mich.; aunts Lydia Terho of Nopeming and Victoria Rajala of St. Paul; additional cousins, Gloriann Oswald of Cloquet, Beverlene (George) Siebold of Cloquet, Ronald (Marlene) Terho of Cloquet, Richard Rajala Sorenson of Pensacola, Fla.; a nephew, Gene "Buddy" Rajala; a niece, Denise Scott; his very dear friend, Ruth Sternal and her family; and his dog, Beaner, who was his close companion.
The family wishes to thank his physicians, Dr. Ruth Westra and Dr. Warren Monson, and St. Mary's Hospice for the exceptional and loving care given to Duane. Thanks to Home Health Care nurse Nancy Flynn, who brought great joy to Duane with her visits. Thanks to the chaplains at St. Mary's who prayed with Duane and his family during his final illness.
Visitation: 10 until the 11 a.m. service Saturday in Bell Brothers Chapel, the Rev. Jerome Evavold officiating. Burial in Oneota cemetery with military honors accorded by Duluth VFW Honor Guard. Memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church Elevator Fund would be appreciated. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Directors, Bell Brothers Chapel, 601 N. 56th Ave. W., 624-5745.
Rose J. Mudrak
Rose J. Mudrak, 86, of Duluth died Monday, April 2, 2001, in Viewcrest Health Center.
She was born Dec. 8, 1914, in Iron River, Wis., to Michael and Anna Mudrak. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church and St. Margaret's Guild. She worked for the United States Postal Service and retired from Pioneer National Bank as an assistant cashier after 26 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Gerrard Antus.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mary R. Mudrak of Nopeming; nephews Ron Mudrak of Orlando, Fla., Father Lloyd Mudrak of Coleraine, Gene Mudrak of Orlando, Frank Mudrak of Duluth, Steven (Peggy) Antus of Palm Springs, Calif., Alex Antus of Coon Rapids, Father Lawrence Antus of Cook, Father Roland Antus of Remer, and David (Diane) Antus of Cloquet; and nieces Carol Jean Antus of Cook, Betty (Joseph) Zmysloney of Duluth, Theresa (Ron) Rutka of Saginaw, Rose Marie Carlson of Duluth, Rita Sjesvold of Bloomington, Minn., and Joyce (Vance) Greene of Cloquet.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today with 6:30 p.m. rosary in Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home. Visitation continues at 10 until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian burial Thursday in St. James Catholic Church, the Rev. Father Lloyd Mudrak, Rev. Father Lawrence Antus, Rev. Father Roland Antus and Rev. Father Charlie Flynn officiating. Interment in St. Michael's cemetery, Iron River, Wis.
James Lawrence Prudhomme
James Lawrence Prudhomme, 78, of West Calvary Road died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Miller-Dwan Hospital.
Jim was born in Duluth and had been a lifelong resident. He had worked for 31 years as a route salesman for Zinsmaster Bakery. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the Army in the Pacific. He was a graduate of St. Jean's High School and a member of St. John's Catholic Church.
He is survived by a son, Charlie (Mary) of Grand Rapids; a brother, Louis of Brookings, Ore., a sister, Virginia Britts of Stockton, Calif.; stepsons Ed (Linda) Bushey and Ron (Linda) Bushey, both of Duluth; grandchildren Jennifer, Christopher, Angela, Aaron, Amy, Rob, Niki, Mike, Rhonda and Steve; and great-grandchildren Isaac, Kaylee and Christopher.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Thursday with 6:30 p.m. wake prayers in Dougherty Funeral Home. Service 1:30 p.m. Friday in St. John's Catholic Church. Burial in Calvary cemetery.
