Obituaries: December 11, 2020

Kathryn A. Fuson
Kathryn A. “Kathy” Fuson, 73, of Soudan, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.
Kathy was born on August 26, 1947, in Moose Lake, the daughter of Clarence and Helen (Wills) Folstad. When she was young, her family moved to Tower, where she attended the Tower-Soudan Schools until the 11th grade. The family then moved to Aurora, where Kathy graduated from Aurora-Hoyt Lakes High School in 1965. In 1966, Kathy enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she met her future husband, Harold Fuson. They were united in marriage on Feb. 29, 1968, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Soudan.
Kathy served as a human resource supervisor in Omaha, Neb., Guam, and Grand Forks, N.D. She and Harold moved to the Duluth area where she completed her Associate of Arts Degree and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency as a contracting officer. In 2002, they moved to Soudan, where she had since resided.
Kathy was a lifeguard at the Tower Schools for several years. She enjoyed swimming, fishing, gardening, and spending time with her family and her fur baby, Annie. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Tower, where she was president of the church council. She was also a former member of Nelson-Jackson Post 245 of the American Legion of Tower-Soudan.
Kathy is survived by her daughters, Lorrie (Robert) Verplaetse of Iowa City, Iowa, Julie Wilkerson of Platte City, Mo., and Tammie (Tamera) Fuson-Schafer of Mayville, N.D.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; twin brother, Kenneth Folstad of Soudan; brother, Lawrence (Linda) Folstad of Soudan; sister, Lynell (Michael) Yancy of Tower; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Helen Folstad; husband, Harold; and grand-niece, Kendra Folstad.

Harvey N. Koski
Harvey Nicholas Koski, 80, of Vermilion Lake Township, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, from complications of the COVID-19 virus. The family expresses sincere appreciation to the staff at Heritage Manor in Chisholm for their compassionate care during his final days. A graveside service is planned for early spring at the Vermilion Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6959 Highway 169, Virginia, MN 55792. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia (Kurt) Peterson of Kenosha, Wis.; brother, Michael (Susan) Koski of Embarrass; sisters, Kathryn (Bruce) Carlson of Tower and Lois (David) Lahti of Hermantown; grandchildren, Taran and Tasha; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Edward F. Tausk
Anything worth doing is worth doing well. That is the story of Edward F. “Ed” Tausk, 90, of Downers Grove, Ill., who died on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, at The Springs at Monarch Landing in Naperville, just seven days after his birthday and three and a-half months after losing his wife of 64 years, Ellen. All are welcome at a Funeral Mass to be held at noon on Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Mary’s of Gostyn Church in Downers Grove, Ill. Interment will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Wheaton, Ill. Memorial donations can be made to The Ellen Tausk Kindness Foundation, established to help a family or student in need. Donations can be mailed to The Ellen Tausk Kindness Foundation, Chase Bank, 1 South Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068, or sent electronically via zellepay.com at Tauskkindness@gmail.com. Arrangements are with Brian Powell Funeral Directors of Hinsdale, Ill.
Ed was born on Nov. 22, 1930, to Emil and Teresa Tausk in Chicago, Ill. He grew up in Chicago with his surviving siblings, brother, Jerry (Carol), sister, Vera and sister, Mary Jane (George) Yoos.
Ed worked as a mechanical engineer and met his wife Ellen at work. They married shortly after and had three children, Teri (Chuck) Goudie, Ed Tausk Jr. (fiancée Wendy Jurek) and Colleen (Steve) Gebavi. Ed was a role model to his grandchildren and was instrumental in providing a foundation of wisdom and life lessons. They all called him “Papa”. They are Caylen (Joe) Bufalino, Brittany (Chase) Davidson, Chas (Julie) Goudie, Keegan Goudie, Grace Goudie, Austin Tausk, Danny Tausk, Carley Tausk, Kyle Gebavi, Braden Gebavi, Ethan Gebavi and Garrett Gebavi. His great-grandchildren brought Ed incredible happiness in recent years. They are Henry Bufalino, Leo Bufalino, Brooks Davidson, Walker Davidson and Claire Goudie. The great-grandchildren all called Ed “Big Papa”.
Ed was known for many things, including the numerous patents he received as an engineer and the fact that he designed and built the Tausk family home in Downers Grove. He was fun-loving and liked to perform his own version of a magic show. Fishing was his passion and the family spent many happy vacations on the lake in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada. When Ed retired from Navistar, he bought a fishing boat and ran salmon charters. He also mentored high school students in the First Robotics program.
Ed always stood up for doing the right thing and doing everything to the best of your ability. If someone had a flat tire, he would be the one to pull over to help. In that regard, he taught his family the importance of “paying it forward” long before the phrase became popular. His family asks everyone to consider doing an act of kindness this holiday season to honor that mission.
Ed is survived by his three children; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and siblings, Jerry, Vera and Mary Jane.

Marilyn H. Skare
Marilyn H. Skare, 88, of Tower, formerly of Golden Valley, passed away peacefully, with her husband Robert by her side, on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, there was a private, family-only funeral service on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel. Memorials are preferred to The Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements were with Washburn-McReavy of Edina.
Besides successfully raising four rambunctious boys, Marilyn co-founded Emergency Food Shelves back in 1971 and ran Westhaven Lodge on Lake Vermilion for nearly 25 years. In the 1950s, she was a synchronized swimmer at the University of Minnesota and was a performer with the famed Aqua Follies in Minneapolis. She was an active member of Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park, teaching Choir School and Sunday School in the 1960s and 70s. She did everything joyfully and always had a positive outlook on life that she freely shared with her family and friends.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Robert; sons, Randolph (Debra), Rodger (Karin) and Richard (Kristin); grandchildren, Katherine, Michael, Eric and Kylie Skare, Lauren (Brian) Ferry, Anna, Charleena, Samuel and Martin Skare; brother, Marshall Lawrence (Constance) Hutchinson; and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarissa and Marshall Hutchinson; and son, Robertson.

Wilfred A. Leinonen
Wilfred Allen Leinonen, 74, of Aurora, originally of Cook, died on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in his home. A graveside service will be held in the Alango Cemetery at a later date. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. 
He is survived by caring family and friends.

Donald C. Fink
Donald Charles “Don” Fink, 72, of Ely, passed away peacefully in the company of his family on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.
He was a beloved father, husband, and friend to so many. He is survived by his daughters, Kallie and Lacey Fink. 

Cleo M. Dombrowski
Cleo Marguerite Moorefield Dombrowski, 83, longtime resident of Eveleth, died on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in the compassionate care of her loving family. Graveside services will be held at a later date in the Eveleth Cemetery. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Cindy Dombrowski of Mesa, Ariz., Dale (Christine) Dombrowski of Narragansett R.I., Terry (Todd) Grantham of Hutter and Brian Dombrowski of Embarrass; siblings, Bill (Norma Jean) Moorefield of Mesa, Ariz., and Lois Thompson of Farmington; eleven grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Mary Ann Franz
Mary Ann Larson Franz, 75, longtime resident of Babbitt, passed away on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing. A private family service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.
She is survived by her children, Thomas “Tom” Franz and Lisa (Jeffrey) Graves, both of Keewatin; grandchildren, Mason Graves of Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Zeb Graves of Keewatin; brothers, Carl (Doreen) Larson, of Crosby and Doug (Joni) Larson of Emily; numerous nieces and nephews.

Joyce I. Saisa
Joyce Irene Jarvi Saisa, 80, of Virginia, originally of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, from complications of pneumonia at Essentia Health - Virginia. Services will be held at a later date at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jerry; sons, Jim (Tammy) of Connecticut and Steve (Dena) of Las Vegas; grandson, James (Megan) and great-grandson, Liam of New York City; sisters, Donna (Bob) Gerchman of New Brighton and Merdie Merrill of Ely; sister-in-law, Judith (Richard) Fields of Duluth; cousins, nephews and nieces.

Karen A. Schmidt
Karen Anita Waisanen Schmidt, 81, of Embarrass, passed away on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at New Journey Residence in Biwabik. There will be a private graveside service at the Embarrass Cemetery. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Steven Schmidt, James (Rana) Schmidt, Jo Ann (Jerry) Flansburg and Brian (Kris) Schmidt; grandchildren, Jennifer Burke, Jesse Schmidt, Eric Flansurg, Emily Slater, Emma Schmidt, Andrew Schmidt, Isaiah Schmidt, Zachery Schmidt, Tyler Tyssedal, Brandon Schmidt, Jeremiah Schmidt and Parker Schmidt; and numerous great-grandchildren.