Obituaries

Wood Walter Phares, or Woody as he chose to be called later in life, decided to shuffle off this mortal coil and go “Off to see the Wizard” (Which was one of his favorite expressions when-ever he would leave us) on November 8th 2020.
Born in the month of December in Cincinnati OH, he left this world just shy of his 77th birthday. Tallahassee FL was his journey’s end, the sun and ocean always called him back. Always doing things on his own terms, this final journey was no exception.
Wood graduated from Rollins College and from there entered the US Army. He served in Berlin at the Wall, where he, as he would like to say, was “watching the spooks.” While Wood was not very sentimentally attached to objects, and a fairly law-abiding citizen, pieces of the original Wall were found as his family sorted through his things.

Wayne LaVerne Murphy, age 91, passed away with his loving family by his side on April 14th, 2021 at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital in Ely, MN.
Wayne was born on November 6th, 1929 in Christie, Wisconsin to Fred and Leota (Howard) Murphy. Wayne proudly served his country during the Korean War in the Army Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He later served many years in the Army Reserves. Wayne married the love of his life, best friend and soulmate, Augusta Meta Cornwell, on May 21st, 1955.

Nancy A. Flynn passed away peacefully at The Hummingbird of Meadowlands Minnesota on April 14th 2021. She was 79 years old. Nancy A. Flynn was born on December 16th, 1941 in Ely, Minnesota to the late Frank and Agnes (Shustarich) Tomsich.
Nancy grew up in Ely, Minnesota and attended Ely Jr. College and is a United States Navy Veteran. She later went on to Eveleth Area Technical School.
Nancy enjoyed photography, classical music and never met a stranger. With her love of all the animals in the world, Nancy contributed funds to many world organizations as well as the local APA’s. Nancy was of the Catholic Faith.

Darrell Eldon Bartell, age 85 of Babbitt, MN, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Saturday April 10, 2021.

Darrell was born to Norma (Rowe) and Eldon Bartell on October 27, 1935 in Remer, Minnesota. He was united in marriage to Barbara Miller on October 28, 1951. Darrell worked for Reserve Mining Company for 31 years until he retired. He also worked part time for Phil Clark Cabinetry and remodeled cabins at the Escape Resort in Babbitt.

After retirement Darrell began relief woodcarving. He made several pictures, clocks, bird houses, whirly gigs and wooden toys for his grandchildren. Darrell loved playing the harmonica and going to jams in Arizona. He and Barbara were snowbirds and resided in Yuma, Arizona for 29 years.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, Norma and Eldon Bartell, sister Vivian Bennett and grandson Shawn Parker Bartell.

Lee Tessier, 83, of Winton, MN died in Duluth on April 9, 2021 of complications following vascular surgery.

Earl Stanley (Stosh) Bulinski, age 72, of Ely died Saturday, April 3, 2021 in South Padre Island, TX.
The stories about the life of Earl could fill a book! He thrived on danger and adventure. It started in 1948 when Earl was a precocious five year old living on Diversey Avenue in Chicago on the ground floor of his Polish grandparents apartment building. He demonstrated his skill as an escape artist by climbing down the brick wall using only his fingers.
As he grew up, Earl developed the reputation of being able to fall asleep anywhere at the drop of a hat. One time Earl drove a dump truck 50 yards into the woods adjoining the Snowbank Road before he woke up. Another time Earl rolled his Corvette on the Fernberg Road, although speed more than sleepiness might have caused this accident.

Margaret Elaine “Peg” Edel, 70, of Excelsior, formerly of Goodhue and Red Wing, died Friday, April 2, 2021, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. She was born on February 23, 1951, in San Antonio, TX to Kenneth and Dorothy (Haider) Brown. She graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1969 and then attended St. Cloud State University. On May 23, 1971, she was united in marriage to Richard J. Edel. They later divorced. For many years she worked in the office for Santa Fe Railroad in Fort Madison, Iowa. She later moved to Minnesota to be closer to her sister and children and resided in Goodhue and then moved to Red Wing in 1996. In her younger years she was a member of the Jaycees where she always enjoyed helping with the Tri-State Rodeo along with many other community projects and events that they hosted. She enjoyed painting, gardening and animals, especially her puppy dogs. She was affectionately known as “Puppy Grandma” to her grandkids.

Barbara Joan (B.J.) Hartfield Stoltz (formerly Barbara Avikainen of Ely), age 84, of Apache Junction and Showlow, AZ, passed away peacefully at home on March 13th, 2021 after a brief 5-month struggle with cancer.
Barbara was born in Hammond, IN and graduated from Thornton Fractional High School in Lansing, IL. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Ely for 20 years. She worked as a photojournalist for the Ely Echo, the Mesabi Daily News, and the Oregon Herald newspapers, and The Lutheran Witness, and spent 20 years with her husband Jim traveling the country in a 5th wheel motorhome serving as part of the Mobile Missionary Assistance Program (MMAP). She was known for praying for everyone she knew, and seeing astounding results from those prayers.

Kathleen M (Kathie) Hanson passed away on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Chestnut Grove in Virginia, MN.
She was born on May 12, 1942 in Fergus Falls, MN to Effard “Bud” Kromer and Agnes (Papesh) Kromer and grew up in Ely, MN graduating from Ely Memorial Sr High in 1960.
She attended UMD and graduated from Bemidji State College participating in many plays and musicals, and was a drum major for the Ely Dillonaires and the UMD ROTC Drum Corp. She was a baton twirling instructor for many years, and an avid bowler. Kathie was employed by the Department of Indian Affairs, the Pioneer Press and owned the K & D Cafe in Bemidji and was a member of the VFW and Legion Auxiliaries and the Loyal Order of the Moose.
She moved back to Ely and worked for Irresistible Ink and Hardee’s and was a member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church and past president of the Catholic Council.

Marjorie Katherine Ojala passed away March 12, 2021 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely Minnesota.
She was born February 19, 1928 in Ely to parents Paul & Katherine (Kosnitch) Preblich.
Marge retired from the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency. She enjoyed spending time in her garden, with family, friends and especially her grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Marge married Marvin Nelson in 1955, and Roy Ojala in 1979.
She is survived by sisters Florie (Donald) Maroney and Rosie (Gale) Maroney, grandson Garry Nelson and granddaughter Cherish Jarvi, great-granddaughters Haven & Braelynn Chavers, and many nieces and nephews.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, husbands, and children Gary & Dale Nelson, brother Paul Preblich, sisters, Mildred (Alfred) Mock, Katherine (Roy) Carlson, Lorraine (Laverne) Phelps, Mary Jane Larkin & Helen Preblich.