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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Obituaries: Decmber 24, 2021

Posted

Mona J. Jarnstrom
Mona Joyce Strom Bullert Jarnstrom, 93, of Lake Vermilion-Tower and Bonita Springs, Fla., passed away on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at Edgewood due to leukemia. The family would like to thank the loving staff at Edgewood, who were Mom’s extended family, and Essentia Hospice for their wonderful care. She will be remembered for her witty one-liners and easygoing personality. Memorials are preferred to St. James Presbyterian Church, PO Box 413, Tower, MN 55790. Due to COVID, a celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2022. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. 
Mona was born on Sept. 21, 1928, in Eveleth, to John Arthur “Art” and Eva Strom. She was best known for working in her father’s store on the main street of Eveleth, Strom’s Variety, and later the Ben Franklin Store. After graduating from Eveleth High School in 1946, she attended Eveleth Junior College and Duluth Business School.  
Mona married Royal Jarnstrom in 1948 and together they had four daughters. After Royal passed away in 1976, and left with six-year-old Kristie to raise, Mona attended Mesabi Community College and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1980 with a degree in Business Education. Mona taught at Minnetonka High School and Minneapolis Technical College and retired from Minneapolis North High School in 1993. 
 In 1993, she married Loyd Bullert and moved to Lake Vermilion, only three miles from the 1925 Jarnstrom family cabin where numerous kids learned to waterski, take sauna, and jump off the dock. After her worldly travels, sitting on the shore of Lake Vermilion at her cabin was Mona’s favorite place to be.
Mona is survived by her loving daughters, RaMona Walberg, Renee Holloway, Lynn Dee (Mark) Lehto and Kristie (Marc) Baumgartner; grandchildren, Jeff (Jenny) Holloway, Matthew (Amanda) Holloway and Jesse (Abby) Brula; and great-grandchildren, Rory and Drew Holloway, Will Holloway and Maddox Brula.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Royal Jarnstrom in 1976; sister, Norma (Laurie) Aho in 1977; beloved son-in-law, Don Holloway in 2011; and husband, Loyd Bullert in 2011.

James Meehan
James Meehan, 87, longtime resident of Soudan, died on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, in Fridley. A private service will be held at a later date.
He was born on Feb. 22, 1934, in Virginia, and lived most of his life in Soudan. He attended Tower-Soudan schools and in 1951 he joined the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. When he returned from service, he began working at the Soudan Mine. He worked there until it closed in 1962. He then worked at Reserve Mining until it closed. Along with those jobs he also worked for Breitung Township in their water department, rising to the position of supervisor before retiring. He enjoyed hunting when he was younger and ice fishing on Lake Vermilion in the winters. He could often be found out at the fish house or on his snowmobile on winter days. He always kept busy puttering around the house or his garage. He loved tinkering with his old cars and was a Mr. Fixit for any problem you had. He loved his children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his children, Joy (Charles) Corum of Knoxville, Tenn., Tracie Hellerud of Fridley, Pat (Dawn) Meehan of Burnsville and Darcie (Robert Strand) Meehan of Cook; brother, John Meehan of Gilbert; grandchildren, Naomi (Ryan) Proctor, Corrine (Billy Vann) Emery, Andrea Emery, Jeremy (Missy) Emery, Jessica Meehan, Shay Robinson, Mitchell Jay Meehan, Trinity Meehan, Casey Meehan and Jordan Meehan; great-grandchildren, Dylan Emery, Zachary Proctor, Addisyn Rainaldi and Ariel Meehan.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Mitchell and Shane; and brothers, Joseph and Jerry.

George J. Amitrano
George Joseph Amitrano, 74, of Babbitt, a proud U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, Dec. 22 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt. Burial followed at the Waasa Cemetery. Please consider making a donation to the Babbitt Golf Course in memory of George. Family arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, Patricia “Patty” Gibson Swanson Amitrano; stepchildren, Jennifer Paxson, Jessica Swanson, Jack (Diana) Swanson, Ben (Stacia) Swanson, Courtney (Bill) Hardwick and Autumn (Jacob) Hommerding; grandchildren, Jacob, Michael, Tom (Alyssa), Camilo, Vanessa, Henry, Paige, Luke, Paul, Claire, Philip, Nicholas and Kate; nephew, Michael Sjoquist; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews on Patty’s side; and his black lab, Allie.

William P. Haapala
William Paul Haapala, 67, of Chisholm, died on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at Vermilion Senior Living in Tower. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Landmark Funeral Home Chapel in Virginia with Pastor Erik Roth officiating.
He is survived by two sons, Matt (Ashley) of Hibbing and Mike of Ely; eight grandchildren; and two brothers, Charlie of Aston, Fla., and John (Barb) of Hibbing.

Jimmie E. Noteboom
Jimmie E. Noteboom, 73, of Cook, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Cindy; sister-in-law, Renee Noteboom; niece, Tami Noteboom-Branan; and a countless “family” of friends.