George A. Soger

George August Soger, 80, of Orr, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the Cook Nursing Home. Funeral services were held on Friday, Nov. 11 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr with Pastor Joey “PJ” Bailey as the officiant. Bill Freeman sang, accompanied by Fran Novak. The casket bearers were Tim Olson, Aaron Olson, Shawn Novak, Ross Soger, Robert Soger and Tom Soger. Military honors were accorded by the combined Honor Guards of Orr American Legion Post 480 and Cook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1757. Burial was in the Leiding Cemetery. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook

George was born on June 19, 1931, to Oscar and Lola (Paavola) Soger in Orr, where he grew up and graduated from high school. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953 during the Korean War. After his tour of duty he returned to Orr. George was employed with the Duluth-Winnipeg-Pacific Railway for 30 years. He was a 54-year dedicated, proud member of Orr American Legion Post 480, where he was a top raffle ticket seller. He was also a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr and the Orr Lions Club. George was also a dedicated Orr Braves Fan. He spent many winters in Florida until his health declined. He had resided at the Cook Nursing Home since 2005. George’s family would like to thank the Cook Nursing Home staff for the care and kindness given to him the past six years.

George is survived by two sisters, Norma Coughlin of Pine River and Margie Olson of Buhl; two brothers, Russell (Jackie) Soger of Mission, Texas, and Donald Soger of Melrose, Ill.; sister-in-law, Ruby Soger of Virginia; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a special niece, Barb Novak of Gheen.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Everett, Roy, Ray and Larry Soger; three sisters-in-law, Bernice, Alice and Helga Soger; two brothers-in-law, Bud Coughlin and Ike Olson; two nieces, Tammy Olson Blakesley and Barbara Soger; and one nephew, Greg Olson.

Gerald J. Miklavcich

Gerald J. Miklavcich, 66, of Hibbing, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, in Hibbing. Rev. Gabriel Waweru celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing. Burial was in Maple Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were with Dougherty Funeral Home.

He was born on July 17, 1945, in Ely, to John and Ann Miklavcich. Gerald was a star quarterback in high school, obtaining a scholarship to Bemidji State where he obtained his master’s in Social Science. His master’s thesis, “A Study of the American Civil War Prisoner of War Camp at Rock Island, Illinois”, is on display at the Rock Island Museum. He married his college sweetheart, Darla Rogers, on July 26, 1969, and they moved to Benson where he taught for eight years. In 1975 they moved to Hibbing where he worked at Hibbing Tac for 30 years as a foreman. Gerald was always focused on his family. He was active in the Boy Scouts, helping his three sons to become Eagle Scouts. In his retirement, his love of history and geography led him to travel to numerous points of interest in the U.S. He was the founder of the Downwinders, a group with questions and concerns over the CIRSSD. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Darla; his children, Shawn of Hibbing, Scott of Cumming, Ga., Marci (David) Manwiller of South Range, Wis., and Michael (Kim Reedy) of Aurora, Ill.; a brother, Joe of Ely; a sister, Nancy Mattson of Buhl; and two grandchildren, Zoe Manwiller and Ian Reedy.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Jeffrey A. Lucachick

Jeffrey “Jeff” A. Lucachick, 58, of Bramble, passed away on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Evergreen Terrace in Grand Rapids. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, with a gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the service. Rev. Arthur Dale will be the officiant. Military honors will be accorded by the combined honor guards of Orr American Legion Post 480 and Cook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1757. A reception in Jeff’s honor will be held at the Cook VFW Hall after the services at the funeral home. Burial will take place at the Bramble Cemetery.

He was born on July 21, 1953, in Cook, the son of Andrew and Florence (McCue) Lucachick. He grew up on the family farm in Bramble and graduated from Orr High School in 1971. Jeff had attended the Silverdale Lutheran Church when it was open. He was in the Navy for three years and served on the USS Constellation. He returned back to the area after his tour of duty and worked in the construction of the Range taconite plants. In 1980 he moved to Wyoming and Colorado where he found work as a millwright for General Electric. Due to health reasons he moved back to the family homestead Bramble in July 2008. Jeff enjoyed hunting, fishing - especially fly fishing, blueberry picking, renovating old cars, making homemade beer and wine, and making jam and jelly, along with vegetable gardening. He valued time spent with family and friends. Jeff was well read on natural remedies and vitamins and how they worked with the body.

Jeff is survived by his parents, Andrew and Florence of Cook; four brothers, David (Brenda) of Bramble, Todd (Karen) of Sugar Lake, Scott of Orr and Mark of Minneapolis; one sister, Wendy (Rick) Appleby of Cook; two nephews, Eric (Val) Appleby and Trent (Michelle) Appleby; one great-nephew, Chase Andrew Appleby; one great-niece, Avery Appleby; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Katherine A. Lemke

Katherine Ann Lemke, 57, of Ely, died on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at the Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Babbitt and from 10 until the 11 a.m. memorial service on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the First Lutheran Church in Ely. Pastor John Bonk will officiate. Burial will be in the Ely Cemetery. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.

Kathy was born on May 23, 1954, to Frank E. and Bette (Wilton) Anson Jr. in Muscatine, Iowa. On Aug. 10, 1977, she married Ken Lemke and they made their home in Babbitt. Kathy became a resident of Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely in 2006. She loved to play cards, listen to music, and talk with friends and family on the phone. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Babbitt.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Ken of Ely; son, Michael (Kristin) of Cottage Grove; daughter, Patti (Brandon) Lemke of New Brighton; four grandchildren, Alex and Brayden Fischer, Cameron and Erik Lemke; a brother, Mike (Tracey) Anson of Muscatine, Iowa; brother-in-law, Jim McClure of Muscatine, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Arlene Lemke and Shirley Lemke, both of Ely and Barbara (Gary) White of Jacksonville, Fla.; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends, Pat Hatfield and Monica Macht.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Frank E. Anson III, Steve Anson, Tom Anson and Jim DeLacerda; and a sister, Sue McClure.

Evelyn M. Abrahamson

Evelyn M. Abrahamson, 90, of Cook, formerly of Orr, died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at the Cook Hospital. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cook with Rev. Arthur Dale as officiant. Interment was in Park Hill Cemetery in Duluth. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook. Blessed be her memory.

She is survived by her son, Kevin of Cook; a grandson, Justin of Anchorage, Alaska; a sister, Gertrude Hansen of Duluth (sadly, Gertie passed away later on the same day as Evelyn); a sister-in-law, Phyllis Pearson of Duluth; numerous nieces and nephews; and special caregiver, Debbie Lenzen.

Norma E. Carlson,

Norma E. Carlson, 71, of Hibbing, died on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at University Medical Center-Mesabi in Hibbing. Memorial services were held on Monday, Nov. 14 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook with Rev. Dan Erickson as officiant. Interment was in the Cook Community Cemetery.

She is survived by two sisters, Hazel (Joe) Nosie of Chisholm and Helen (Gerald) Michaelis of Sun Lake, Ariz.; a brother, Donald (Barbara) Jokinen of Fargo, N.D.; a sister-in-law, Helen (Arvid) Edblom of Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews.