Obituaries

Private family Mass of Christian Burial for Herbert “Herb” Joseph Akins Jr., will be held at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Hoyt Lakes with Fr. Peter Lambert as celebrant. Visitation and reviewal for family and friends will be held Thursday, June 18, 2020 from 3:00-6:00pm at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora. Burial will be in the Hoyt Lakes Memorial Cemetery.

Herb lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at his home in Hoyt Lakes.

He was born May 4, 1935 in Duluth, Minnesota to Herbert and Angela (Deyak) Akins Sr. Herb attended school in Two Harbors and Ely and graduated from Ely High School in 1954. He attended Ely Jr. College and later received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Moorhead State College.

Leonard Katauskas, an only child, was born to Lithuanian immigrants, Terese Zviblis and Antanas Katauskas on April 7, 1935 in Chicago. He passed away peacefully at home on June 15,, 2020 surrounded by his family. He graduated from St. Rita’s High School and attended Lewis College in Romeoville, Illinois where he studied aviation and earned a degree in powerplant and airframe mechanics.
His interest and skills in aviation continued to 1956 when he enlisted in the US ARMY and served as a helicopter crew chief in the 2nd US Army missile command at Fort Hood, Texas until 1959. After boot camp, while in flight school, he asked and was granted permission from his commanding officer for a 3-day pass to leave the 125-mile radius of Fort Eustis, Virginia Army base to marry Patricia Burckhardt on March 2, 1957 in Berwyn, IL. In March, 2020 Len and Pat celebrated 63 years of marriage.

Joseph Edward Jamnick, 60, died on June 12th 2020 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, MN after a two month battle with cancer.

Joe was born to Joseph and Theresa (Zupancich) Jamnick in Ely on March 24th, 1960. Joe graduated from Ely Memorial High in 1978 and in 1980 moved to Silver Bay, MN. He married the love of his life Denise Monson March 21, 1987.

Joe was employed by Zups Store for 40 years, working in Silver Bay, Aurora, and Ely. Joe loved hunting, working with his hands, and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. Joe was a man of few words but was always willing to lend a helping hand. Joe was always an early riser and sometimes was up to grind polish for making meat potica on Holy Saturday before his children, nieces and nephews had gone to bed.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Denise, father Joe, siblings Michael and Patricia Jean Jamnick.

Judith K. Johnson, 78, of Babbitt, passed away Sunday June 7, 2020 in her home surrounded by family and friends.

Judy was born January 30, 1942 in North Hibbing Minnesota to Clemens (Clem) and Ellen Fredrickson. She grew up in Kelly Lake, Minnesota and attended Hibbing High School. Judy went on to cosmetology school and owned and operated Judy’s Beauty Salon in Babbitt. She married the love of her life, Darrel Johnson February 11, 1961. Judy was an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Babbitt. She was involved in Peter Mitchell Days, the Babbitt Fun Run, youth hockey and the Babbitt-Embarrass Women’s Club.

Judy was preceded in death by her father and mother, Clem and Ellen Fredrickson. Judy is survived by her beloved husband Darrel; son, Christopher (husband Hal Lebo); sister Marlyn Allen; sister Christine (Robert Monetti); and many nieces and nephews.

Peter (Pete) J. Serson, 76, of Ely, MN passed way on June 5th in the early morning while heading up to Basswood to enjoy a day of fishing.
Peter was born on July 3, 1943 to Peter A. and Maybel (Harper) Serson.
After serving in the Vietnam War, Pete came home to marry the love of his life Judith (Bydlon), who he adored. Pete and Judy were married for 51 years and raised four children, David, Jean, Liz and Kate.
A jack of all trades, Pete supported his family working at Warner/Marcus Communications, LTV Mining and Northshore Mining throughout his life.
Pete retired from NorthShore Mine in 2007, and spent many years with his grandchildren, teaching them many life lessons.

Flora G. Johnson, 96 went peacefully in her sleep April 27, 2020. She is survived by her husband Roy, two sons Randy and Ron, twin daughters Sandra Wright and Susan Teale, 8 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Rusty, her twin sister Fern Waldron, Winnie, and brother Bill.

George Britton, 85, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at his residence with his family at his side.
George was born December 5, 1934 to George Arthur and Mable Adell (Cornish) Britton in Brainerd, MN.
He married Shirley Foy on June 16, 1956 in Brainerd.
George worked in logging, copper-nickel drilling, carpentry, owned his own construction company and owned Britton’s Cafe for 27 years.
George is survived by his wife Shirley of Ely; daughter Patricia (Jim) Carlson of Ely and son Dean Britton of Park Rapids, MN; three grandchildren, Crystal (Nate) Poppler, Derek (Dana) Banovetz, James (Abby) Britton; six great-grandchildren, Joshua Marsh, Amelia Pluth, Alison Poppler, Aubrielle Poppler, Reese Britton and Lilly Britton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters Esther Gunn, Doris Britton, Mable Britton and Sylvia Duke.

On Sunday, May 24, Herbert (Herb) J. Novosel, loving husband and father passed away at the age of 75 at his home in New Hope, MN with his family by his side. Herb was born on February 18, 1945 in Ely, MN to Steve and Adele (Kerntz). In 1962 he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Knox Kentucky, Fort Greely Alaska, and Fort Lewis Washington during his time in the military. On August 9, 1969 he married Ardis Olson and they raised two sons, Patrick and Matthew. Last year Herb and Ardis celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the lake with many friends and relatives.
On his return to Ely from the military Herb went to work at Reserve Mining Company and ran his own excavating company for 16 years. When the mine closed, he moved his family to the metro area and worked at Retail Data Systems until his retirement. After retiring he was able to spend much of his time at the cabin on Fall Lake.

Marian Koschak, 87 formerly of Ely, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2020 at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living in Virginia. Family arrangements are entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Dr. Richard “Dick" Bevis of Ely died from a heart attack on May 22nd at age 80. Dick grew up in Minneapolis and enjoyed summers on Burntside Lake. Dick was a graduate of the University of MN Dental School, and practiced orthodontics in the Twin Cities for over 30 years. He remained active throughout his life enjoying boating, fishing, golf, and sailing on Lake Superior. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, and will be remembered for his steady character, optimism, and generosity. Dick was a man of quiet faith in God, and his family rejoices that he is now in his eternal home. Dick was preceded in death by his parents Percy and Allie Bevis, and sister Joan Nelson. Dick is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary (Palmquist) Bevis; three children, Karen (Peter) Tamte, Randy (Cheryl) Bevis, and Ben (Sara) Bevis; and 9 grandchildren. Memorial service plans to follow.