Obituaries: June 9, 2023

Marius S. Petersen
Marius Stenfeldt “Hank” Petersen, 95, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, due to complications from surgery. Hank did not want a funeral service but requested that his ashes be scattered in Lake Vermilion, in the same spots as those of his beloved wife Connie.
Hank was born in Tower to Marius and Emma (Fredrickson) Petersen on April 30, 1928. He graduated from Tower-Soudan High School, where he was a member of the football and basketball teams, as well as the band and orchestra. He was also awarded the class’s American Legion Award in recognition of his academic and athletic achievements and community service.
Hank served two tours of duty, both in Korea. Lacking funds for college admission, he had initially volunteered to enlist right out of high school but was rejected due to poor eyesight. Not to be deterred, with the G.I Bill and college on his mind, he then volunteered to be drafted and memorized enough of the eye chart to pass his second physical. The first tour was during peace time with the Headquarters Battery of the 7th Division Artillery in Seoul. Upon being discharged he returned home and began his college education. In June of 1950 the Korean conflict began to heat up and Hank was re-drafted and assigned to the 936th Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion engaged in extensive combat supporting infantry units, and he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars plus battle streamers for six campaigns conducted during the war. In November 1951 Hank was discharged and resumed his education, graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1952.
After graduation, he married Connie West on August 29, 1953, in Tower. Hank and his bride moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he started a new job as a trainee for the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company. He worked for Jeffrey in various sales and product management positions dealing with solid waste disposal and environmental control systems for his entire professional career. He retired on his birthday in 1992.
Hank and Connie raised their family in Columbus, and he was an active and enthusiastic supporter of all his four children’s numerous activities. Although they left the Iron Range of northern Minnesota, the couple routinely made trips back to Lake Vermilion, where they loved to vacation with kids and grandkids, often attending the Fourth of July celebration in Tower, and always fishing for walleye at their favorite spots.
In 1979, Hank was transferred to Greenville, S.C., by his employer, the Jeffrey Division of Dresser Industries, where the weather better enabled them to pursue their favorite past time of fishing, especially the fall “blue” run at Murrells Inlet. In retirement, Hank and Connie traveled throughout the United States and Canada, visiting family and focusing on the national parks out west. His other hobbies included vegetable gardening, golfing, and cooking, especially on the grill. They were together for 63 years until Connie’s passing in 2017. After Connie’s death, Hank moved back to the Columbus area, where he lived his remaining years near family.
Hank is survived by his daughter, Cathy (David) Schilling; sons, Scott (Becky) Petersen and Mark Petersen; grandchildren, Morgan Petersen, Erik (Linda) Schilling, Alex Schilling, Kevin Stapanian and Allison Mashburn; great-grandson, Graham Schilling; a niece; and several nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie; parents; sisters, Maren Petersen and Enid Nelson; and daughter, Adrienne Stapanian.

Irene Brown
Irene Brown, 85, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 30, 2023, in Cottage Grove. A memorial service will be held to celebrate Irene’s life at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. 
Irene was born in Cook on Sept. 17, 1937. She graduated from Alango High School in 1955 and Duluth Business University. She worked as a dedicated bookkeeper. Irene found immense joy in her artistic pursuits, particularly drawing. She also had a playful spirit, enjoying games, bingo, and socializing with her friends.
She is survived by three children, Sue Mukunza, Wade Gilpin and Russ Brown, all in the Twin Cities; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and five siblings, Steve, Barb, Ed, Ron and Marlene.

Frank L. Fabish
Frank L. Fabish, 77, of Buhl, died on Monday, May 29, 2023, surrounded by his family at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 9 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chisholm. Reverend Father Paul Strommer will be the celebrant. A gathering time for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Virginia. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Peggy Hadersbeck Fabish; children, Mark (Angela Lindgren) Fabish of Orr and Lesley (Todd) Greiner of Victoria; grandchildren, Serena, Jared, Ty and Beau; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Gary (Linda) Hadersbeck, Pat (John) Gunderson and Deborah (Colleen Bakken) Johnson; several nieces and nephews; extended family; and friends.

James E. Eisner
James E. “Jamie” Eisner, 51, of Cook/Angora, passed away on Thursday, June 1, 2023. A private gathering and interment will be held at a later date. Cards or memorials may be sent to Mlaker Funeral Home: PO Box 15, Cook, MN 55723.
He is survived by his mother, Karen Neumann; father, James A. Eisner; sister, Delsie Eisner; brother, Tadd (Jana) Eisner; and niece, Katrina Eisner.