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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries - Feb. 15, 2019

Posted

Kay E. Salo 

Kay E. Hochstetler Salo, 76, passed away on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at Essentia Health Virginia Care Center. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Pike Apostolic Lutheran Church. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. 

Kay was born on May 2, 1942, in Soudan. She lived in Tower and Buhl for most of her living days. She had a love for Jesus, cooking, her many fat cats and little dogs. She was always available for her family and friends, especially her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly. Kay had a propensity to make friends wherever she was. One could always find her chatting in doctors’ offices, elevators and grocery lines with an ever-ready hello and a life story.

She had innumerable special friends, including, Kenny Paulson, Jane of her State Street Apartment family, “adopted” daughter Katie Petrosky, and too many more to mention.

Kay is survived by her sister, Viola (Don) Salo; sister-in-law, Diane Salo; brother-in-law, Willie Salo; daughter, Lisa (Paul) Neari; sons, Jon (Kari) Salo and Michael “Bucko” Salo; stepbrothers, Ronnie and Raymond Hill; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Henna Thompson; stepfather, Emil Hill; sister, Jean Thompson; ex-husband, Casey Salo; son, Randy Salo; and grandson, Casey Martin.

Mark F. Abramson

Mark Forrest Abramson, 55, of Britt, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Mark was born to Forrest and Carol (Kyllonen) Abramson on Oct. 22, 1963, in Cook. Mark grew up and attended school in Orr, graduating from Orr High School in 1982. Soon after graduation, Mark attended Lake Superior College, graduating with a civil engineering degree. He went on to work for Abramson Construction, later named KGM Contractors, as a Project Manager and Head Estimator. He remained with the company until his retirement in 2013.

Mark met and married Holly Nakari in August 1986. Though the couple parted ways, they remained friends. Mark met Julie Stahlberg who would become his partner in life. Sadly, she passed away in 2007.

Mark enjoyed spending time on Lake Vermilion with family and friends and traveling to places like Mexico and Florida. The thing Mark most enjoyed was the people around him. Some of Mark’s most treasured times in life were coaching his sons, who played hockey for Chisholm and Cook. Although Mark enjoyed his pastimes, his favorite “hobby” was working.

Mark was a very intelligent man with a heart of gold. He cared about everyone and would give the shirt off his back to help someone out. “The point of the matter is” Mark will be missed by many.

Mark is survived by his parents, Forrest and Carol Abramson; sons, Travis (Bethany) Abramson and Justin Abramson; grandchildren, Aviana Abramson, Sylas Abramson and Raiden Abramson; brothers, Gary Abramson and Kerry Abramson; sister, Michelle Gunderson; and his cat, Puddins’.

Mark was preceded in death by his love, Julie Stahlberg; sister, Karla Abramson; and uncle, Russ Keranen.

Gloria M. Stella

Gloria M. DeRosso Stella, 85, of Babbitt, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt with Rev. Fr. Bill Skarich as celebrant. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Argo Cemetery in Babbitt. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Stella of Babbitt; sons, Michael (Shirley) of New Prague, James (Carol) of Hoyt Lakes and David (Kyle) of Babbitt; grandchildren, Kari, Mike, Lindsey, Katie, Jeffrey and Joey; nine great-grandchildren; and brother, Gordon DeRosso of Spring Hill, Fla.

Eugene M. Johnson

Eugene “Gene” Morris Johnson, 81, of Amery, Wis., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at his home in Amery. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 9 at First Lutheran Church in Amery. A private family interment will take place at a later date at the Amery Cemetery. Arrangements were with Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Amery.

Gene was born at home on Feb. 26, 1937, in Tower, to his parents, Walter and Teresa Johnson. He attended Embarrass Public Schools in Embarrass and graduated from high school in 1955. Gene received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1959 and his Masters of Arts from UMD in 1963. He was united in marriage to Wanda Pederson in 1959 and the couple made their home in Amery where they raised their three children, Craig, Paul and Sarah. Gene began his teaching career at Amery Public Schools in September 1959 and retired from teaching in May 1990.

Gene loved the outdoors and environment - trees, plants, birds and animals. He especially liked working in his yard, gardens, and shrub/flower beds, planting and giving away flowers, especially dahlias and gladiolus. Gene devoted time to managing his woods and conservation plots, planting trees, wildflowers and cutting firewood. He enjoyed fishing local lakes and Lake Vermilion, camping/fishing trips to Canada, and traveling in his campers. Gene also enjoyed visiting with and spending time with family and friends.

Gene is survived by his loving wife, Wanda; children, Craig of Fairmont, Paul of Menomonie, Wis., and Sarah (Mark) Crane of Nashua, N.H.; grandson, Matthew (Kara) Kobernick of Nashua, N.H.; brothers, Larry (Debbie) of Two Harbors and Reinhold (Pat) of Tower; sister-in-law, Evelyn Johnson of Aurora; and other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Teresa Johnson; and brothers, Albert, Walter Jr. and Richard Johnson.

Melvin R. Luloff

Melvin R. Luloff, 79, of Lake Vermilion-Cook, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. A memorial visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, with Military Honors at 6:30 p.m. by the Cook VFW Post 1757 Honor Guard and Orr American Legion Post 480 Honor Guard. The family would like to thank the Cook Area Ambulance Service and Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade for their heroic efforts and kindness; the family would prefer donations to these organizations in lieu of flowers.

Melvin made his home on Lake Vermilion in Cook. He was a general building contractor in the Twin Cities and on Lake Vermilion. He loved hunting turkeys and pheasants and adored his Springer Spaniels.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Nancy; children, Dan (Cindy), Susie (Todd) DeRenzis, Jim (Jennifer) Erickson and Cindy (Kevin) O’Connell; eight grandchildren; sister, Susan; beloved dog, Zeus; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by five of his siblings.

Lucy A. Zahnow

Lucy A. Bernard Zahnow, 70, of Hoyt Lakes, formerly of Embarrass, died on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at Essentia Health-Northern Pines Care Center in Aurora, following a courageous 14-year battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 at The Evangelical Free Church in Embarrass. Pastor Marlin Bjornrud will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 at Cron-Sheehy Funeral Home in Eveleth and continue on Saturday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Spring burial will be in the Embarrass Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

She is survived by her children, Lori Zahnow, Darin Zahnow, Kyle (Jamie) Zahnow, Perry (Rachel) Zahnow, Angela (Brad) Allen, Lisa (Ken) Krueger and Sherwin (Shelby) Zahnow; 11 grandchildren; siblings, Robert (Betty) Bernard, Bernadette (Roger) Showers, MaDonna (Dennis) Carlson, Angeline (Loren) Granberg, Daniel (Lynn) Bernard and William (Laurie) Bernard; brother-in-law, Dale Kangas; sister-in-law, Linda Bernard; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Newell M. Cederholm

Newell Myron Cederholm, 91, longtime resident of Babbitt, passed peacefully at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, a few weeks after celebrating his 91st birthday. He was a caring husband, father and grandparent who always enjoyed time with family. He will be interred at Argo Cemetery in Babbitt this spring with a graveside memorial and celebration of life to follow.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dolores Bialke Cederholm; children, Bob (Kim) Cederholm, Judy (Brian) Thomas and Janet (Al) Priolo; grandchildren, Scott (Kasey Swiers) Thomas, Lisa (Zack) Anderson, Ross (Tara) Priolo and Jaclyn (fiancé Jace Romano) Priolo; great-granddaughter, Lettie Anderson; and Kasey’s children, Eli and Lena.

Patricia J. Wickett

Patricia Jean Palmer Wickett, 87, of Virginia, formerly of Babbitt, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. A family memorial gathering will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

She is survived by her sons, Gregory (Joyce) of Farmington and Douglas of Arizona; daughter, Cheri (Skip) Nelimark of Mt. Iron; grandchildren, Jason, Joshua, Adria, Mathew, Joseph, Acasia, Brittanie and Nathan; step-grandchildren, Ashley and Aaron; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.