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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries: October 22, 2021

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Alan D. Kittelson
Alan “Al” Duane Kittelson, 63, of Virginia, died on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Virginia. A visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. until the 12 noon memorial service on Friday, Oct. 22 at Bauman-Cron Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia. Pastor Liz Cheney will officiate. Lunch will follow. Family services are provided by Bauman Family Funeral Homes in Virginia.
Al was born in Albert Lea, and grew up in Lafayette, Ind., and Schaumburg, Ill. He was mostly known for his sense of humor and his love of the Northwoods. His favorites were bird watching on the lake, fishing, and his old Jeep named “Mule”. His professions were many and included house painting, and working at Fortune Bay, Walmart in Pine City, and Minntac. Al will be missed by his many friends and family.
Al is reminding us…..“Don’t forget about how I loved to make people smile. I met Margaret Whiting in the late 80’s. We were a family of three including her daughter, Heidi, until our son, Ryan Oliver Kittelson, was born in 1989 in Minneapolis. Ryan and Kayla Aho gave me three beautiful grandchildren and live in NYA. My mother and father, Duane and Darlene Kittelson, have lived near Tower for many years and my sister lives in Mesa, Ariz.”
“I am preceded in death by my brother, Bruce Edward. Many people knew my grandparents, George and Helen Kittelson of Albert Lea, and Herbert and Dena Peterson of Emmons.”

Judy Dabruzzi
Judy Seibert Dabruzzi, 71, of Woodbury, and a 37-year island resident on Pelican Lake in Orr, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, with family present. Northern Minnesota has been a slice of heaven for the family as they all live near the Twin Cities. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home in Woodbury. Memorials are preferred to the family.
She is survived and will be deeply missed by her husband, David; children, Dr. Danielle Dabruzzi-Hintz (Matt) and Anthony Dabruzzi (Megan); granddaughter, Victoria Hintz; siblings, Jean Bednar (James), Martin Seibert (Sybil), Linda Ek (Jim), Lonie Seibert and Debra Mordick (Brad); sisters-in-law, Debbie Lynch, Linda Holter, Kathy Seibert and Delores Seibert; and many other family members.

Gerald C. Jacobson
Gerald C. “Jake” Jacobson, 79, of Ely, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, after a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25 at Veterans On The Lake with military honors provided by the Ely Honor Guard. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Kauppi Jacobson; daughter, Barbara (David Stone) Anderson; sons, Steven (Molly) Jacobson and Lee (Cristin McMullen) Jacobson; grandchildren, Jessica Anderson, Emily Jacobson, Lindsay Jacobson and Sam Jacobson; sisters, Joyce (Scott) Seifert and Lorraine Haas; brothers, Larry (Susan) Jacobson and David (Julie) Jacobson.

Leonard F. Lubarski
Leonard Francis Lubarski, 83, a longtime resident of Embarrass, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at North Star Manor in Warren with his family by his side. He will be buried next to his wife, Shirley Gentilini, at a graveside gathering at noon on Friday, Oct. 29 in the East Pike Cemetery in Pike Township.
He is survived by his children, Mike (Dierdre) Lubarski of LaPorte, Linda (Dean) Isaacson of Crookston, Bob (Sandy) Lubarski of Minnetonka and Veronica (Jeff) Halvorson of Warren; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; siblings, Gary Lubarski, Shirley Anfinson and Patricia Hoeper; and Shirley’s children, Connie Hermanson, Deborah Hart, Cindy Forseen, Susan Austin and Steve Gentilini.

Frank J. Korpi
Frank J. Korpi, 83, of Soudan and Ely Island- Lake Vermilion, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. A celebration of life is being planned for the spring or summer of 2022. The family prefers donations in Frank’s name to the Honor Flight Network at honorflight.org. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Frank is invited to post or comment at https://padlet.com/RememberingFrank/2021.
He is survived by his soulmate, Eunice Harju Korpi; nine children, Tim Korpi of Soudan, Scott Korpi (Sherry) of Land Oʼ Lakes, Fla., Rhonda McConnell of Tampa, Fla., Douglas Korpi of Mt. Iron, Amy Curfman (Kevin) of Palo, Melanie Korpi of St. Petersburg, Fla., Lyle Korpi (Rosemie) of Lutz, Fla., Alan Korpi (Barbara) of Jupiter, Fla., and Ryan Korpi of Mt. Iron; eight grandchildren, David Tedman (Harmony), Steven Solkela, Kirsten McConnell, Nicholas Korpi, Noah Korpi, Nolan Korpi, Audrey Curfman and Zach Curfman; and two great-grandchildren, John Tedman and Ellie Curfman.

Lloyd E. Reing
Lloyd Elwood Reing, 88, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at the Cook Hospital with his family by his side. A memorial visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, followed by burial with military rites at the Cook Community Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook.

Lyle F. Conaway
Lyle F. Conaway, 91, of Virginia, died on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Waterview Pines in Eveleth with his daughters by his side. A memorial gathering will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Virginia Servicemen’s Club. Memorials are preferred. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his eight children, Dan (Shirley) of Orr, Dave (Mary Lou) of Virginia, Kate (Nick) Pershern of Virginia, Kurt (Deb) of Eveleth, Scott of Two Harbors, Maureen Holappa of Virginia, Brian (Diane) of Britt and Pete of Virginia; flying buddy, John Mohr and his family; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; extended family and friends.


Emery C. Trangsrud 
Emery Clarence Trangsrud, 90, a longtime resident of Embarrass, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at Waterview Pines in Virginia. A graveside service with military honors was held on Tuesday, Oct. 19 in the Embarrass Cemetery. Arrangements were with Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.
He is survived by his four children, Mark of Blaine, Wash., Bradley (Sue) of Embarrass, Kelly of Roseau and Julie of Sanford, Fla.; six grandchildren, Carrie (Paul), Sarah (Brian), Donovan (Natasha), Andrew, Katie (Christian) and Emily; eight great-grandchildren, Tanner, Dillon, Breydon, Jacob, Annabelle, Colin and Evie Mae; brother-in-law, Ron Solberg; brothers, Julian and Milo; sister, Elna; and many nieces and nephews.

Clarence W. Ivonen
Clarence W. Ivonen, 99, a longtime resident of Virginia, originally of Ely, died on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Waterview Pines in Virginia. Private family inurnment services will be held. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to the East Range Hospice Team, the Virginia Salvation Army, or a memorial of the donor’s choice. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Eila Nurminen Ivonen; daughter, Kristina “Tia” (Brian) Ivonen-Smith; grandchildren, Kyle R. Smith (Megan), Senja A. Smith (Nacia); great-grandson, Layton James Smith; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Evelyn A. Koski 
Evelyn A. “Evie” Lehto Koski, 86, of Virginia and Birch Lake-Babbitt, originally of Embarrass, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Chisholm. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the Heritage Manor Staff for their kind care of Evelyn.
Per her request, there will be no service. Private burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her four children, Debby (Tom) Smuk, Dee (Gary) Kochevar, Mike (Joanne) Koski and Dawn (Stephen) French; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Aileen E. Aho
Aileen Evelyn Alto Aho, 78, of Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, at Essentia Health in Virginia. The family would like to thank the staff at the Essentia Health Virginia Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit for the wonderful care Aileen received. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Warren Aho of Cherry, Deanna Leppala of Embarrass and Keri (Tony) Kaml of Pengilly; son-in-law, Brian Leppala of rural Virginia; granddaughter, Amanda (Erik) Johnson of Pengilly; grandson, Cody Leppala of rural Virginia; brother-in-law, David Aho of rural Virginia; nephews, Ken Aho of Biwabik and Roy Aho of Texas; niece, Kim Aho of Grass Valley, Calif.; numerous cousins, other relatives and friends.