Obituaries: May 27, 2022

John Sheldon Majerle
John Sheldon Majerle, 74, lifelong resident of Tower, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 21, 2022, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 27 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower with Deacon Dan Schultz officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
Sheldon was born on July 23, 1947, in Soudan, to Edward F. and Anna Laura (Anderson) Majerle. He was in the graduating class of 1965 and then attended Ely Junior College. He was employed at the Tower-Soudan School as a dedicated bus driver and maintenance man for 32 years. Sheldon was an active community member, most notably serving on the Tower City Council. He was a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, and a past President of the Old Settlers Association. His passions in life included flying airplanes, training horses, watching local youth sports, and spending time with friends and family. In his retirement, he enjoyed SOS coffee with his cronies, the simple joys of driving around the horn, and happy hour at McKinley Park. 
Sheldon is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Robin Tomsich Majerle; children, Steve (Amy) Majerle of St. Paul, Lee (Tasha) Majerle of Tower, Tucker (Kassie Hall) Majerle of Eveleth and Laura Majerle of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Sean, Emily and Cecilia; sister-in-law, Judy Majerle; and many great friends. 
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Ed Majerle. 

James B. Nelson
James Bertil “Jim” Nelson, 84, of Tower, died on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. Pastor Liz Cheney will officiate. A gathering for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis. Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.
Jim was born on Feb.13, 1938, at home in Cook, to Victor and Jennie (Gustafson Jackson) Nelson. He graduated from Cook High School in 1956 and from Virginia Junior College in 1958. Jim married Jeanne Thibado in 1958. The Nelsons moved to Menomonie, Wis., and Jim graduated from Stout State College in 1961 with a degree in industrial education. The family relocated to the Twin Cities, where Jim worked for IBM. He later co-owned Wybrite, a business that serviced IBM machines. Jim, Jeanne and their sons lived in Mounds View until 1976, when they moved to Pike Bay on Lake Vermilion. Jim was the proprietor of Nelson’s Hardware in Tower from 1977 to 2002. 
Jim married Jacqueline Coplin in 1997, and they continued to live on Lake Vermilion. Jim was known as Papa Jim to Jacqueline’s family. Active until his last days, Jim was always busy with many hobbies and projects. He loved fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling, and was often working on a boat, four-wheeler, tractor, or truck. He was known to fix, reuse, and save just about anything, even if replacing it would be more convenient. Jim built remote control airplanes before obtaining his pilot’s license and flew a Piper Cub until his early 80s. Jim excelled at basketball and track in high school and in college. He enjoyed watching Cook and North Woods High School and Minnesota Vikings games, along with his grandchildren’s sports and activities.
Jim is survived by sons and stepsons, Steven (Leann Barsness) Nelson, Greg (Debra) Nelson, Brian (Dana) Nelson, Tac (Anjie) Coplin and Wade (Kara) Coplin; grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Brianna (Amanda Rolling) Nelson, Trevor (Allisen Keith) Nelson, Tucker (Ashley) Nelson, Bailee (Cody) Gores, Booker and Jaley Coplin, Shelby and Jennie Nelson, Calvin and Aurora Coplin; great-grandsons, Jaxon and Chase Tankersley and Charles Walkama; sister-in-law, Karon Nelson; nephews, Paul and Eric Nelson; former spouse, Jeanne Peterson; special friend, Judi Anderson; and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Coplin Nelson; parents; brother, John Nelson; half-sister, Edna May Jackson; sons, James Jr. “Jimmy” and Tucker Nelson; grandson, Colby Nelson; brother-in-law, Willis Thibado Jr.; mother-in-law, Marie Thibado; aunts, uncles and cousins.

Raymond L. Anderson
Raymond LeMoine Anderson, 94, of Cook, passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A lunch will follow at the VFW in Cook.

Raymond J. Lossing
Raymond John Lossing, of Cook, passed away suddenly at home. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 at the Cook VFW Post 1757.

Kenneth L. Folstad
Kenneth L. “Shorty” Folstad, 74, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, May 6, 2022; his faithful dog Annie was by his side. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 at Good Ol’ Days in Tower. All family and friends are welcome. Burial with military honors will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery-Duluth. All family and friends are again welcome. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.
Ken was born on Aug. 26, 1947, in Moose Lake, the son of Clarence and Helen (Wills) Folstad. When he was young, the family moved to Tower. Ken graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in 1966. He then enrolled in a short auto mechanic course. On Dec. 13, 1966, he entered the United States Marine Corps, where he enrolled in auto mechanic training. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Mast, Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal and Rifle-Sharpshooter Award.  Ken attained the rank of Sergeant E-5.  He was proud of his assignment as driver for Major General R. G. Owens Jr.  at El Toro Marine Base in California, where he met U.S. President Richard Nixon, as well as several movie stars. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 11, 1970.  
Throughout his life, Ken worked as an auto mechanic at several car dealerships; he also managed the Tower Marina. Ken continued to fix cars and boats in retirement. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching old westerns and war movies on TV. He enjoyed cooking and made a great homemade pizza. He collected old coins, especially buffalo nickels.
Ken is survived by his sons, Kenneth Peter (Julie Johnson) Folstad of Tower and Keith Edward Folstad of Soudan; grandson, Kenneth; brother, Lawrence (Linda) Folstad of Soudan; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Helen Folstad; granddaughter, Kendra Lee Folstad; siblings, Kathryn Fuson (his twin) and Lynell Yancey; and the mother of his sons, Dawn Dougherty.

Debbera J. Marinaro
Debbera Joanne Wick Marinaro, 67, of Babbitt, originally of Embarrass, passed away peacefully in her hospital bed surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, May 22, 2022, after her battle with pancreatic cancer. There will be a celebration of life at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 at Tank’s Bar in Babbitt.
She is survived by her mother, Loretta Wick; brother, Dave Wick; sister, Barb Manney; and children, Tracy Marinaro and Mike Marinaro.

Alice I. Hallowell
Alice I. Drevland Hallowell, 90, longtime resident of Hibbing and formerly of Cook, died on Thursday, May 19, 2022, with her family by her side. A memorial service was held on Thursday, May 26 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hibbing with Rev. Kevin Olson officiating. Inurnment was in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing. Family services were provided by Anderson-Daniels, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Hibbing. 
She is survived by her daughter, Debbie (Jeff) Rootes of Hibbing; son, Roger (Connie) Hallowell of Orr; grandchildren, Rebecca (Jeremy) Jensen, Gary Rootes, Miranda (David) Myers, Jason (Stacey) Rootes and Roger Hallowell Jr.; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, extended family members and friends.

David M. Cherne
David M. Cherne, 71, a lifelong resident of Ely, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at Ely-Bloomenson Hospital after a seven-year battle with lung cancer. A celebration of life will be held at the end of July. To send flowers or to plant something in Dave’s honor, please contact the family’s close friends, Sandy at Bloomers in Ely or Bonnie at Ely Flower and Seed. Arrangements are with Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his wife, Deb Kainz Cherne; children, Paulette (Bruce), Danielle (Jerry Wiener), Chad (Mandy) and Dwayne Walters; grandchildren who were his world and knew him as BopBop, Easton Walters, Sophia, Ian and Logan Cherne; sisters, Denise (Paul Paulisich) and Beth (Cindy Killion); brothers, Steve (Rebecca), Mark (Lynda) and his closest friend whom he considered his brother, Chuck Bodine; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law in the Cherne and Kainz families, too many to name.

Lonny W. Benner
Lonny Warren Benner, 46, of Orr, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2022. A Traditional Wake was held on Tuesday, May 24 and the Traditional Service was held on Wednesday, May 25, both at the Bois Forte Government and Services Center. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
He is survived by his mother, Shirley Benner; brother, Brandon (Nicole) Benner; sisters, Simona Benner and Sharon Adams; nieces, Monique and Makayla Benner, Vanessa and Teresa Adams; nephews, Kalvyn and Benjamin Benner; aunties, Mavis Drift, Margaret Benner and Dawn Benner; and numerous cousins.