Gary Stellmach, 60, of Babbitt, passed away on Friday, December 21, 2018 at his residence. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Marian Chindvall, 100, of Pine River, MN passed away on Dec. 22, 2018 in Brainerd, MN. She is survived by her five children, including Anne Chindvall or Ely. Services will be held at noon, Sat., Dec 29 in Pine River’s First Lutheran Church.

Doris Marian (Saari) Slogar, 89, passed away December 9, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. Doris was born in Ely, Minnesota to Levi J. and Hulda E. Saari on December 21, 1928. She spent her childhood, teen years and a portion of her adult years in Ely. She graduated from Ely High School. After a short career with the Federal Government as a stenographer with the Treasury Department, she fell in love with Lawrence A. “Larry” Slogar and they married on May 29, 1948. Doris became a homemaker, and together they raised their three daughters, first in Ely when the girls were young, and then in Florida when the family moved there in 1960. Doris was very involved with Larry in the family’s home-building business, Lakewood Park, in Daytona Beach, Florida. She enjoyed baking, going to the beach, movies, reading, board games and spending time with her family. Doris is predeceased by her husband, Larry; her parents, Levi J. and Hulda E. (Saari); her brother James H.; her foster sister Eileen Mattonen Dyhr, and two daughters, Lucy M. and Barbara M. (Slogar). Doris is is lovingly remembered by her daughter Jeanne (Michael) Haddad; two grandchildren Lucy M. (Rachel) Schreck and Matthew M. Haddad; and twin great-grandsons Kaeleb and Liam Schreck, and her foster sister Dorothy Kangas (Herb) Akins of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Resurrection Catholic Church on January 19, 2019 at 10:00 am with Father Peter Akin-Otiko as Celebrant. Committal will follow at Hardage Giddens Greenlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation; FL: 200 SE 1st Street, Ste 800, Miami, FL 33131, USA, NY: 1359 Broadway, Ste 1509, New York, NY 10018, contact@parkinson.org. Condolences may be left in Doris’s online guestbook at www.. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Community Hospice & Palliative Care for their support during Doris’s illnesses and in her final days. Please Sign the guestbook at www.GreenlawnJacksonville.com HARDAGE-GIDDENS, Greenlawn Chapel, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. 32207 is serving the family.

Charles John Merhar, aka Charlie or Cherla, 80, of Ely, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Carefree Assisted Living in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Joretta Pollock, 87, of Ely, passed away on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Carefree Assisted Living in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Steven Anthony Tekautz, 42, of Owatonna, formerly of Hastings and Silver Bay, passed away suddenly on January 7, 2019.
He was born Sept. 28, 1976 to Anthony and Gail (Ebert) Tekautz.
Steve is dearly missed, by his wife, Kelly of Owatonna; children, Cayce and Alex of Owatonna; parents Anthony and Gail, Chisholm, MN; Sisters, Tara Tyo of Brimson, MN, Tracey (John) Fenske of Ely, MN; nieces and nephews, Travis, Jenny, Dylan, Ryan and countless friends.
Some of Steve’s ashes will be spread at the places he loved best, the cabin at White Iron Lake and the hunting shack. Burial will be in the family plot in the Ely Cemetery. A celebration of Steve’s life will take place at the cabin early this upcoming summer, when the fish are biting. For more information or to leave an online condolence message go to www.brick-megerfuenralhome.com.

Paul Leonard Lassila passed away peacefully on December 21, 2018 at the age of 86 after a long battle with COPD while wintering in Desert Hot Springs, California.
Paul was born in Embarrass, Minnesota to Paul and Hilja Lassila and was the youngest of six children. When he was young the family moved to Ely and he graduated in 1950 from Ely High School. In 1952 he was invited to join the U.S. Army and proudly served his country as a member of the Elite 10th Special Forces Group, (Airborne) through 1954. After fulfilling his military service he attended Trinidad State College and earned his associate degree in gunsmithing. He returned to Ely and operated his gunsmithing business while employed as a diesel mechanic at Reserve Mining Company. In Paul’s younger years he guided many canoe trips. He was an avid outdoorsman as camping, hunting and fishing were his passion.
In 1970 he moved his family to Prescott Valley, Arizona where he started a successful excavating and septic tank pumping business along with the construction and operation of several car washes. Paul had the wonderful uncanny ability to look into the future and see potential business opportunities due to the explosive growth in Prescott Valley and the surrounding areas.
Upon retiring he returned to Ely and spent summers on Shagawa Lake at his cabin home. During the last 17 years Paul was blessed to have Madeline Jensen join him in life and had became his fiancee. They enjoyed traveling by R.V. throughout the U.S. trying to find the “warm spot“! They visited relatives and friends while traveling to many wonderful places on their “bucket list”. Together they enjoyed countless hours of wood working, making a variety of beautiful gifts that will be cherished forever. One of their favorite things was their daily cribbage games and they were always ready to take on anyone who was willing to give them a challenge. And with his love for cribbage Paul enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to play. He was a great story teller of his many exciting experiences “back in the day”. These stories will continue to be retold and treasured by future generations. Paul’s laughter was contagious to all who knew him!
Paul is survived by his brother Leslie Lassila of MN; son Paul K. (Michelle) Lassila of AZ; daughter, Peggy (Ron)Wegge of OK; and Paul’s fiancee Madeline Jensen; five grandchildren: Chad (Koby) Wegge of TX; Cherish Wegge of AZ;Carly (Jeff) Mellgren of AK;, Sierra (Joel) Lassila/Jonathan of CA and Gabe Lassila of ND
Four great-grandchildren: Abby and Josh Mellgren, Honor and Axel Wegge along with their baby brother to be born in March of 2019. This recent announcement brought an abundance of happiness to Great-Grandpa Paul Lassila!
He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be a “Celebration of Life” held at a later date in Ely, Minnesota to honor Paul’s memory.

The Rev. Roger Edward Carlson a resident of Cottagewood Homes, Rochester, MN entered into his heavenly home on December 26, 2018 after a multi-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
Roger was born on September 3, 1928 in Jamestown, NY to Gustav and Ella (Carlson) Carlson. He is predeceased by his parents and sisters Rita Johnson and Edna Strobeck. He was educated in the public schools of Jamestown, NY and at Augustana College and Seminary, Rock Island, IL.
Roger was married June 4, 1955 to Lois (Sjovall) who survives. They were blessed with four children: Camille Martin, Gilbert, AZ, Craig, Vadnais Heights, Brian, Rochester and Curtis, Shoreview, MN; 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Roger is also survived by nieces and nephews in Minnesota, New York and Ohio.
Roger was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry on June 19, 1955. He served parishes in Hudson, WI, and Afton, Babbitt, Zumbrota, Goodhue, Trimont, Kansas Lake and Soudan, MN. He also served part-time in Orr, Ely and Vermillion Township. He served as Red Cross Disaster Chairman, President of Eagles Nest Lakes Association and Assistant Administrator of Parkside Homes in Soudan, MN.
Always a wordsmith, Roger was fascinated with verbal expression, vocabulary and grammatical construction. He tackled the daily NY Times crossword puzzle for over 50 years. A special pleasure of Roger’s was the family cabin at Eagles Nest Lake where he constructed a large log addition using only hand tools. Restoration of a 1950 DeSoto Club Coupe provided years of enjoyment along with developing lasting friendships with fellow antique car club members in St. James and Ely, MN.
Memorials are preferred to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.LBDA.org). Roger bequeathed his body to Mayo Clinic for medical research. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Thomas “Tom” Martin Rukavina, 68, of Pike Township, died on Monday, January 7, 2019, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis after a battle with leukemia. The family would like to thank the talented staff at the University of Minnesota Medical Center for their extraordinary care of Tom during his stay. Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 19, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Visitation will also be held on Friday, January 18, from 5-7 p.m. at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Tom Rukavina Scholarship Fund c/o Mesabi Range College Foundation, 1001 W Chestnut St., Virginia, MN 55792.
Tom was born to Martin “Benny” and Martha Rukavina in Virginia on August 23, 1950. He grew up on northside in an ethnically diverse neighborhood with a close immediate and extended family which positively shaped his life forever.
He graduated from Virginia High School in 1968. He attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus where he graduated magna cum laude in political science, with a minor in history, and graduated in 1972. While at UMD, he met Lenore Lampi of Palo; they married in September 1973. They lived for nearly 30 years north of Virginia where they homesteaded in Pike Township and built a house together with their family and friends, using lumber they milled themselves. Tom and Lenore had two children, Ida and Victor. Tom later married Jean Cole in October 2012, adding three stepdaughters to his circle of love.
Tom was proud to have been a steelworker at Minntac like his father before him. He was also a milk truck driver in the Tower and Soudan area, which he credits as one of the reasons a Croatian/Italian learned to speak Finnish. For many years he worked as a part-time logger alongside his friend Roger Manning, in a venture they named Pike River Logging.
He also worked at Ironworld, where he recorded the oral histories of hundreds of early Iron Rangers, establishing a rich resource and legacy for generations to come. Giants Ridge in Biwabik was another employer of Tom’s and the development of the ski hill held a special place in his heart.
He began his life as a public servant on the Virginia School Board and as a Pike Township supervisor. In 1986 Tom was elected state representative to the Minnesota legislature, representing the 5A district of Virginia and the East Range, a position he held for 26 years. After ‘retiring’ from politics to help with his first grandchild, Delia, he took a job with Congressman Rick Nolan. In 2014 Tom was elected as a St. Louis County Commissioner, a job he held until he passed away on his last official day in office.
Tom loved the Iron Range of Minnesota - its history, its natural resources and above all, the people of the Iron Range. He was a devoted public servant, answering phone calls and emails at all hours, doing his best to serve his constituents - even responding to constituents these past months from the hospital.
Tom believed that as a politician and legislator it was his duty to improve people’s lives. Throughout his career, he defended workers’ rights and union rights, seniors, education, and youth. As testimony to his dedication and hard work, the building which houses the Iron Range Engineering Program at Mesabi Range College bears his name.
He enjoyed participating in DFL politics, visiting people, incessant story-telling, cross-country skiing, camping, and tending his organic garden. He liked to travel and made special trips to meet his relatives in Italy and Croatia. He loved his family and friends and would do anything for them. His greatest wish was to spend more years with his granddaughters.
Tom will forever be known for his quick wit, his intelligence, his hard work and effectiveness, his passion, his heart, his integrity and honesty, his humor, and his dedication to improving people’s lives. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, constituents and colleagues who worked with him over the years.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jean Cole; daughter, Ida Rukavina (Jesse Dahl), of Palo; son, Victor (Michelle) Rukavina, of Minneapolis; granddaughters, Delia, Lucia and Serafina; sister, Chris (Dennis) Rudy, of Washington, D.C; brother, Mark (Barbara McQueen) Rukavina, of Boston, MA, and their children: Ben, Nate and Sara; brother-like cousin, John “Butch” Folman and his wife Anne, of Pike Township; step-daughters, Katie (Nick) Calvert, of Mancos, CO; Kelsey Cole, of Jackson Hole, WY; and Christine Cole, of Ely; sisters-in-law, Liz (Paul) White, of Crossville, TN; Marie (Joe) Hallett, of Columbus, OH; brother-in-law, Sid (Marilyn) Tregillis, of Sylvania, OH; numerous cousins and their families; former spouse, Lenore Lampi (Chris Soares), of Duluth; and an enormous multitude of friends.
Tom was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Martin “Benny” and Martha; aunts and uncles: Louis and Helen Mordini, Laura and Bob Carlson, Gloria and John Folman, Michael “Mela” Rukavina, Catherine “Katie” Rukavina, Anne and Roy Thornton, Joseph (Joey) and Arlene Rukavina; cousins: Kay Marie Rukavina and Roberta Louise (Bobbi Lou) Sisler; and his beloved in-laws, Reino and Viola Lampi.

Leora Wetzel, 90, of Ely, passed away on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Essentia Health- St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Sharon J. Dimich, 65, of Babbitt, passed away on Sunday, January13, 2019 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Dorothy (Jiacik) Stember of Red Wing, MN died peacefully at home on Jan. 4, 2019 at age 86.
Dorothy is survived by her husband, Daniel; three daughters: Ann Patrick of Tucson, AZ, Ellen Stember of Red Wing,, MN; granddaughter Kaitlin Niebeling and Dorothy’s sister Carol Janeksala and brother Richie Jiacik of Ely. Dorothy requested there be no funeral services.

Elizabeth “Betty” Povhe, 69, passed away on January 18, 2019. She was born on October 15, 1949 in Ely, Minnesota to Angela (Flake) and Rudy Scufsa. She graduated from Ely Memorial High School, attended Vermilion Community College, and then went on to beauty school in Duluth. She moved back to Ely and worked at Town and Country beauty shop and the Hairstyling Corner. After that, Betty and Carolyn Johnson owned and operated Guys n Gals beauty shop until she retired. Betty was known for her cooking, baking, sewing, and crocheting. Her favorite pasttime was driving around in the convertible with her beloved husband, Jim. Another favorite past time was bowling. In 1992 she bowled a perfect game and to the best of her knowledge, was still the only woman in Ely to have done so.
She is survived by her siblings Rudy (Sue) Scufsa, Bernie (Donna) Scufsa, brothers- in- law Fred (Jeanie) Povhe, and Garry Kitchens; numerous nieces and nephews: Samantha Kitchens and Tabitha Carter; Amy (Bob) Kellogg (children Courtney and Cole), Trisha (Barry) Weisinger (children Emily (Dan) Forsman and Stephen), John (Heather) Scufsa (children Addison, Rebecca, and Rachael); Wendy Varey (children Adam and Clayton), Michael Scufsa; Denise Scufsa (children Kali, Brady, Parker, and Reese); Ben(daughter Grace, one of her and Jim’s greatest gifts), Alex, and Bradley Povhe; and her grand nieces Kiersten and Alexis Carter, Kiley Hill, step niece and nephew, Donnie and Joey White.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, sister Theresa Kitchens, her sister-in-law Peggy Povhe, in-laws Mary and Fritz Povhe, nephew Kevin Scufsa, and grand-nephew Zachary Scufsa.
The service will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on Saturday, January 26. Visitation is at 10 in the morning followed by the service at 11.

Janet F (Fritz) Kivisto, 82, passed away January 17 from complication s of Primary Progressive Aphasia.
She was born August 16, 1936 in Bessemer Twp, MI to Donald and Ruby Fritz. Janet grew up in Hurley, WI. She attended nursing school when she met the love of her life, Jack and married him on August 2, 1958 in Waukesha, WI. Janet and Jack eventually moved to Babbitt where she worked for the Babbitt Weekly News and Babbitt Library. Her greatest joy was her kids and grandkids. She loved reading, walking and gardening.
Janet is survived by her children Michael Dean (Anne) Kivisto and their children James and Sam Kivisto, Betsy (Howard) Israelson and their children Jonathan and Raya Israelson, John (Sally) Kivisto and their children Daniel, Jacob and Carmen Kivisto, Peggy (Bryan) Quandt and their children Craig and Kasie Quandt, Steve Kivisto and his children Gracie and Gavin Kivisto. Her brother Jim Fritz, brother and sister-in-law Pug and Joann Fish, sister-in-law Janet Burrows, and many nieces and nephews.
Janet was proceeded in death by the love of her life, Jack Kivisto, granddaughter Parker, her parents Donald and Ruby Fritz, John and Flora Kivisto, and brothers Dean and Alan Fritz.

Mary Jean Kriznar, May 6, 1941 – January 15, 2019. A friend of everyone she met, Mary Jean Kriznar of Ely, Minnesota passed away on January 15, 2019. Mary Jean could strike up a conversation wherever she went, and had friends and relatives across the country. She will be remembered as a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is predeceased by her parents, Adolph and Francis (Globokar) Dolenshak, and husband, Frank Mathew Kriznar.
Mary Jean was born on May 6, 1941 in Ely, Minnesota. She married Frank Kriznar on May 6, 1961, and the two lived in Ely with their two children, Bradley and James. One of Mary Jean’s greatest loves was the cabin on Six Mile Lake, and was known by many as “Mother Nature” through her weekly call-ins to the Ely radio station. She also enjoyed traveling, music and long, long conversations. After retirement, Frank and Mary Jean became snowbirds, wintering in Fort Pierce, Florida each year. Mary Jean made a community of friends in Fort Pierce and continued her trips south each year.
She is survived by her sons Bradley (Dana) and James; four grandchildren Kelley (Robert) Perrault, Ford (Kelsey) Kriznar, Austin Kriznar, and Tyler Kriznar; one great grandchild, Jacob; three sisters: Darlene (Steve) Leek; Adrienne Micklich, Frana Cherico; a brother Adolph “Rudy” Dolenshak; cousin Elaine Musich; nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Minnesota.

Betty Jane (Thomas) Page, 93, passed away at Carefree Assisted Living in Ely, MN on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. She was born August 2, 1925 in Iowa City, Iowa to Helen (Means) and Dr. Wesley Thomas. The family later lived next door to artist Grant Wood’s family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
She married Wesley M. Page, MD and they had two sons: Thomas M. and Michael J. The family moved from Montezuma, Iowa to Rockford, Illinois in 1958. Betty graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in social work. She was a member of the Alpha Beta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi (social sorority while in Iowa). Then an member of an Alpha Delta Pi alumnae group in Rockford.
The family purchased a summer home on Moose Lake, north of Ely in the early 1970s. Wesley died in 1977. Her sons and a brother also preceded her in death. After wintering in Arizona for a number of years, Betty became a year-round Ely resident in recent years. Betty enjoyed being on the water by boat and liked to socialize with her Moose Lake area neighbors.
Betty is survived by grandsons Mike (Kelsey) Page and Chris (Celeste) Holbrook of Portland, OR and great granddaughter, daughter-in-law Deborah Page, of Yuba City, CA, and good friend Betsy Vosburgh and others.
Services will be held at a later date.
Family arrangements are by Kerntz Funeral Home.

Gloria (Lassey) Starkman, died in Austin, TX, on Jan. 5. Graveside services will be held at the White Iron Cemetery this summer.

Don Chinander, 78, of Ely, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2018 at his residence. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Carl Thomas Mistek, September 26, 1943 – February 2, 2019. It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Carl Thomas Mistek of San Jose. Carl peacefully entered into rest with his soulmate and loving wife, Gina, by his side. A strong man, fierce patriot and generous person, he believed in giving back and was frequently seen with a big smile and heard with a deep laugh. He greatly enjoyed visiting with too many friends to mention, spending time with his cherished and precious dog Brandi, working on a crossword puzzle or enjoying a quick-witted joke.
Carl leaves behind his adoring sister, Mary “Missy” Davis and brother, Jerome (Aneta) Mistek; cohort and brother-in-law, Philip (Marlene) Chantri; loving parents-in-law, Bruno (Gloria) Galli; cherished nephews, Joseph Mistek, Jonathan (Mary) Davis and Philip “Mickey” Chantri; adoring niece Jodi (Steve) Moore and precious great-nieces Jamie and Kristen Moore.
He is predeceased by treasured brother-in-law Keagel Davis.
Born to Joseph and Mary Mistek in 1943, he grew up in a loving family in Ely, Minnesota. Carl served in the Army in the 101st Airborne Division as an awarded paratrooper before moving to California and beginning his real estate career. Carl had a wonderful sense of humor and will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew him.
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 11:00 am at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Disabled Veterans of America or the Humane Society.

Gertrude C. Steiskal, 95, of Ely, passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.