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Lydia Josephine Urbaneak Baakari
Lydia Josephine Urbaneak Baakari passed away from her earthly suffering Tuesday, June 12, 2001, and now rests in the hands of God.
Lydia was born May 11, 1944, the eldest daughter of Walter and Emilie Urbaneak, in Chicago. The family moved to Split Rock Township when she was an infant.
She was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Split Rock Township, where she married
Walter Baakari on July 17, 1965.
She will be missed by her loving family, including her husband of 35 years, Walter; daughters Audra Baakari (Scott M.) Boyle of Waukesha, Wis., and Ann Baakari of Kettle River; sisters Rita (Dan) Kostecky of Conway, Ark., and Gloria (Dan) Reynolds of Kettle River; and nephews, nieces and cousins. May her soul rest in peace.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. today with 7:30 p.m. rosary service in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake, and 10 until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian burial Friday in St. Joseph's Catholic Chapel, Split Rock Township. Father Frank Paquette as celebrant. Burial in St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery, Split Rock Township. Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.
Gerald "Jerry" W. Walsh
Gerald "Jerry" W. Walsh, 68, of Grand Rapids died Tuesday, June 12, 2001, in his home after a long struggle with ALS.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille; sons Kevin (Debra), Gary (Karla) and Terry Walsh; sisters Carol Yoemans and Corice Schindele; brothers Willie and John Walsh; and five granddaughters.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today in Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids. Funeral at 11 a.m. Friday in United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids. Burial with full military honors in Itasca-Calvary cemetery, Grand Rapids.
Florence Johnson
Centenarian
Florence Johnson, 100, of Cloquet passed away June 12, 2001, in Cloquet Convalescent Care Center.
She was born July 4, 1900, to Fred and Sigrid (Thompson) Reed in Superior.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur R.; three brothers; and her parents.
Florence is survived by her children, Arthur A. (Charlotte) of Cloquet, Ardene Hammarlund of Farmington Hills, Mich.; grandchildren Tim, Terry, Todd, Pam, Matt and Trish; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Private family service in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Cloquet. Private interment in Hillcrest cemetery. Arrangements by Barr Brothers-Handevidt Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Cloquet, 879-4636.
Dale F. Dirkes
Dale F. Dirkes, 62, of Bigfork died on Monday, June 11, 2001, in the Northern Pines Communities in Bigfork.
Born May 15, 1939, in Grand Rapids, he was the son of John and Esther (Moonen) Dirkes. He graduated from Greenway High School, attended Itasca Community College, the Minneapolis School of Business and the University of Minnesota. He attended Catholic services at the Northern Pines Communities in Bigfork.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by a daughter, Danni Higgs of Dallas; a son, Billy Dirkes of Austin, Texas; and brothers Ron (Joanne) Dirkes of Sauk Rapids, Minn., Jim (Jan) Dirkes of Plymouth, Minn., and Gene (Deb) Dirkes of Bovey.
Visitation: 9 until the 10 a.m. funeral service today in Peterson Funeral Chapel, Coleraine, the Rev. Father Lloyd G. Mudrak officiating. Interment in Lakeview cemetery, Coleraine. Arrangements by Peterson Funeral Chapel.
George B. Costello
George B. Costello, 82, of Leonidas, Minn., died Thursday, March 29, 2001, in 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 and graduated from Iron River High School. George served in World War II, first in Infantry and then in the Army Air Corps. 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 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 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 Sr. 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.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers William, John and Tom Costello; and his first wife, Evelyn Majchrzak, in 1958.
George is survived by his wife, Ethel; daughters Kathleen Costello of Maple Grove, Minn., Nora (John) Mattei of Virginia and Mary (Joe) Tersteeg of St. Louis; granddaughters Ashton and Megan Jo Tersteeg of St. Louis; sisters Mary (Evert) Salo of Winona, Minn., and Peg Costello of Eagles Nest Lake, Ely; a sister-in-law, Suzanne Costello, of Iron River; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: 10 until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian burial Tuesday in Resurrection Catholic Church, Eveleth, with Father Eamonn Boland and Monsignor Patrick McDowell co-celebrating. Interment at a later date in Fort Snelling National cemetery, Minneapolis. Arrangements by Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home, Eveleth.
Toivo William Kananen
Toivo William Kananen, 87, of Northome passed away Saturday, March 31, 2001, in Merit Care Hospital, Fargo, N.D.
Visitation: 9 until the 10 a.m. service Wednesday in Hope Lutheran Church, Northome. Inurnment in Squaw Lake. Arrangements by Carroll Funeral Home, Deer River.
Antoinette Louise Mestnick
Antoinette Louise Mestnick, 90, of Keewatin died Friday, March 30, 2001.
She is survived by her husband, John; daughters Mary Jo (Dennis) Gustafson and Jane (John) Potter; a son, John Mestnick; sisters Stephanie O'Leary and Margaret (Joe) Stupca; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Noon until the 1 p.m. Mass of Christian burial Tuesday in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Keewatin. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing.
Robert Vukad
Robert Vukad, 79, of Chisholm died Friday, March 30, 2001, in University Medical Center - Mesabi in Hibbing.
He was born March 15, 1922, in Chisholm to Mike and Eva Vukadinovich. He was a 1940 graduate of Chisholm High School and was a lifelong Chisholm resident. He was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Pacific Theater. He retired in 1982 as a foreman from U.S. Steel after 41 years of service.
Bob was a member of Hematite Lodge 274 A.F.&A.M.; of Chisholm and had served as an alderman on the Chisholm City Council for many years.
He was an avid sportsman. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers; and a sister.
Bob is survived by his wife, Helene; children Barb (Layne) Forsberg of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Chuck (Gail) Vukad of Hayward and Sandy (Larry) Metzler of Nashville, Tenn., granddaughters Pam Theisen and Shelley Swanson; great-grandchildren Brandon and Nicole Theisen and twins Ashley and Emily Swanson; a brother, Mike Vukad of Antioch, Calif.; a sister, Celia LaMontagne, of Chisholm; and several nephews and nieces.
Memorial gathering: 2-5 p.m. today in Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service Chapel, Chisholm. Inurnment in Chisholm cemetery at a later date. Arrangements by Rupp Funeral Home & Cremation Service.
Sarepha "Dolly" Yost
Sarepha "Dolly" Yost, 76, of Cohasset died Thursday, March 29, 2001.
She is survived by her husband, Gerald; daughters Lorraine (Dale) Steinert, Sandra (James) Dethloff, Geraldine (James) Henry and Margaret (Robert) Gowdy; a son, Al (Pat) Yost; sisters Nettie (Ray) Wydra and Helen Nelson; brothers Al and Lavern Becker; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids. Mass of Christian burial to follow at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Grand Rapids.
Melgaard R. Paetznick
Melgaard R. Paetznick, passed away Thursday, March 1, 2001, in Duluth.
Memorial service: 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Elim Lutheran Church, Barnum, Blackhoof Township. Come share your memories of him.
Charles J. Haslam
Charles J. Haslam, 79, died Sunday, March 18, 2001, in Albany, N.Y.
He was born in Ishpeming, Mich., Feb. 10, 1922, to Charles and Wilhelmena Haslam. He attended Duluth Central High School, Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of Michigan. His college education was interrupted by World War II in which he served with the Corps of Engineers in the European Theater. He completed his education at Houghton School of Mines after returning from the service. He was employed by E.I. Dupont Co. in New York, and later went into business for himself as a manufacturer's representative.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriet Sleepack, of Duluth; and a sister, Helen Haslam Anderson, of Duluth, in 1993.
He is survived by his wife, Pearl; a son, Charles J. (Helen) Haslam; a grandson, Charles J. Haslam Jr.; and a granddaughter, Shannon Haslam, all of Albany; sisters Betty McShane and Jean Haavik of Duluth; and many nieces and nephews.
Service was held Saturday in Albany.
Steven Douglas Thorpe
Steven Douglas Thorpe, 33, of Cohasset and formerly of Cloquet, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in his home.
He was born Oct. 7, 1967, in Duluth to Dale and Elaine (Koski) Thorpe. He grew up in Cloquet and graduated from Cloquet High School in 1986. He also graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1991, then taught school at Wrenshall from 1992-1998.
Steve loved to laugh and make others laugh. He loved to hunt and fish and enjoyed the outdoors. He was loved by all who met him and made friends easily.
Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine; brothers Todd and Kevin; and grandparents Reynold and Myrtle Thorpe, and Eino and Esther Koski.
He is survived by his wife, Renee Gibbons of Cohasset; his father and stepmother, Dale and Ruth Thorpe of Duluth; a stepbrother, David (Brenda) Ruppel of Atlanta, Ga.; a stepsister, Jennifer (Craig) Yelle of Elk River, Minn., parents-in-law, Pete and Mary Jo Gibbons of Grand Rapids; brothers-in-law Mike (Ann) Gibbons and Tom (Cami) Gibbons, both of Duluth; a sister-in-law, Michelle Gibbons of Grand Rapids; beloved dogs, Chavo, Chica and Chase; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet, where the service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Rev. Ramon Olson officiating. Inurnment in Maple Grove cemetery, Cloquet. Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Care of Cloquet.
