Obituaries - Nov. 2, 2018

Evie I. Lamppa

Evie Irene Lamppa, 100, of Virginia, died on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Essentia Health Care Center. Private family services will be held with Pastor Don Stauty officiating. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Gathering to be held at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 at the Virginia Elks Club. Interment will be in the Embarrass Cemetery. Memorials are the preferred way to honor Evie’s memory and may be directed to the Gloria Dei Ladies Guild. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.

Evie was born on July 18, 1918, in Siuro, Finland, the daughter of Emil and Hulda (Perttu) Niemi. She emigrated from Finland at age two, settled in Florenton, and was a graduate of Virginia High School. She married Arthur Owen “Art” Lamppa on July 29, 1939, in Embarrass and was a longtime Embarrass resident. Evie was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and its Ladies Guild; volunteered for the AEOA; was employed by Cluett-Peabody Arrow Shirt Factory; and was the produce manager for Lamppa’s Store. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, hardanger and was known for her delicious bread, biscuit and tarts. Evie’s greatest joy came from time spent with family; she was a caring wife, mother, grandma, and great-grandma.

Evie is survived by her children, Bonnie (Bansi) Shroff of Pasadena, Calif., and Gary (Rita) Lamppa of St. Paul; grandchildren, Brennan (Jennifer) Shroff, Sean (Norma) Shroff, Zach (Misty) Lamppa, Courtney (Kevin) Thompson and Rebecca (Andrew) Andestic; great-grandchildren, Waylon, Sadie, Barron, Anthony, Dutch, Judd, Steele, Kai, Hayk, Oscar and Leola; numerous nieces and nephews; and extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Art; daughter, Donna Lamppa; and her eight siblings.

Dolores A. Lakso

Dolores Ann Lakso, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at Carefree Living in Babbitt. A memorial service and inurnment will be held in the spring. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

Dolores was born on Feb. 19, 1929. Originally from Tower, Dolores went to country grade school in Vermilion Township by Pike River. Dolores graduated from Tower-Soudan High School in the class of 1947. In 1951, Dolores earned her Bachelor of Science cum laude from the University of Minnesota and in 1958 she received her Master’s (M.A.) from the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Dolores began teaching English in 1955 at Virginia High School. In 1958 she accepted a teaching position with Virginia Junior College. Considered a “hard” instructor by students, Dolores made sure they learned during their sojourn in her classroom. She was respected by her colleagues as a promoter of the English language and its proper usage. In 1993 she received a Certificate of Honor from the Minnesota State Board for Community Colleges. Dolores always intended to retire early, but she was happy at the community college and she stayed for 27 years.

After retiring in 1985, Dolores spent much of her time with family and traveled to places she had never seen. She took two trips to Finland with her mother Emma Lakso and aunt, Sylvia (Lakso) Matri. While in Finland, they visited with many relatives and built lifelong bonds with them.

Dolores was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She always looked forward to the fishing season opener. She enjoyed fishing from her dock on Pike Bay Narrows of Lake Vermilion. Dolores always made sure that her mother Emma had her line in the water, too. In addition to fishing, Dolores enjoyed blueberry picking and harvesting wild rice from local lakes.

Dolores is survived by her nephew, Michael (Jill) Ferguson; and niece, Ann (Ferguson) (Stephen) Locke.

Dolores was preceded in death by her grandparents, Richard and Lena (Pederson) Lakso and John and Anna Sofia (Ylinen) Mattila; parents, Jack and Emma (Mattila) Lakso; baby brother; twin sister, Doris (Lakso) Ferguson; nephews, Jack Ferguson and Donald Ferguson; and niece, Jennifer (Ferguson) Ponte.

Dawn M. Stellmach

Dawn Marie Engel Stellmach, 59, of Virginia, died on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Essentia Health-Virginia. A memorial service was held on Thursday, Nov. 1 at Hope Community Presbyterian Church in Virginia with Reverend Kate Stangl officiating. Inurnment was in Calvary Cemetery. Family services were provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.

She is survived by her husband, Tim; son, Casey (Kelsey) Stellmach of Chatfield; grandson, Colton; mother, Nancy Engel of Virginia; sisters, Debbie (Gary) Moon of Canby, Ore., Jayne (John) Egan of Highland Ranch, Colo., and Darlene (John) Hadrava of Eveleth; brother-in-law, Bryan Meyers of Duluth; and extended family and friends, including special cousin, Ethie Kniivila,

Mary Gray

Mary Bianchi Gray, 75, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Ely with visitation one hour prior. A reception will follow at the church. The family extends sincere thanks to the CICU unit of Essentia Duluth and all her family and friends for all their love and support. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

She is survived by her husband, George Gray; daughters, Marcy (Allan) Bubb, Tanya (Keith) Akins, Georgia (Jason) Akins and Amanda (Lance) Horvat; sisters, Gloria Smuk and Judy (Ted) Curn; grandchildren, Alanna, Klaeton, Hailey, Andrea, Jacob, Chase, Caitlin, Alec, Aiden, Carter, Makenna and Jack; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Angela F. Golobich

Angela F. “Angie” Vertnik Golobich, 93, of Ely, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be in the Ely Cemetery. Special thanks for all the years of wonderful care provided by the staff at BWCC and recent additional care by Essentia East Range Hospice. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

She is survived by her husband of over 71 years, Tony; children, Robbie Golobich of Wayzata, Gerry (Mary Lynn) Golobich of Mt. Iron and Russ (Sue) Golobich of Coon Rapids; grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) DeChantal of Maple Grove, Steven (Jill) Golobich of Duluth, Travis (fiancé Samantha) Golobich of Fargo, N.D., and Brent Golobich of Coon Rapids; sister, Gert Mosnik; and many nieces and nephews.

Lynn M. Curry

Lynn Marie Kennedy Curry, 55, of Babbitt, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital. A family service will be held at a later date. Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.

She is survived by her life partner, Norm Curry of Babbitt; daughters, Amanda Curry of Babbitt and Dawn (Richard Ritacco) Huewe of Babbitt; grandchildren, Hailey Lindquist, Brody Lindquist and Riley Curry; mother, Marilyn Olson of Virginia; father, Gordon Kennedy of Arizona; siblings, Tom Olson of Idaho and James “JJ” Olson of Virginia; and extended family and friends.

Joseph J. Zupancich Jr.

Joseph “Happy Joe” John Zupancich Jr., 80, of Soudan, died peacefully at his home on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. Family arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Lou; children, Mary Jo Threinen, Angie (Carl) Enroth, Joseph Zupancich III, Steven (Renee) Zupancich and Christine (Kraig) Larson; eleven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Zoe (Frank) Planton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Roy Grotberg

Roy Grotberg, 77, of Ely, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 at Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.