Obituaries

Lorraine Klobuchar, 65, of Eveleth, passed away on December 6, 2017 in her home. Lorraine was born on June 5, 1952 in Ely and graduated from Ely Memorial High School. She attended UMD and graduated in 1974 with a teaching degree. She taught at Hibbing Jr. High until her retirement. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Lucille Volk of Ely. Surviving are her son Kyle Klobuchar, currently serving in the military in Texas; her ex-husband and friend Rick Klobuchar and her six sisters ; Patty (Jay) Fortner, Isle; Mary Crystal (Newton) Nickerson, Ely; Donna (Bernie) Scufsa, Cottage Grove; Kathy Meier (Jim ), Babbitt; Stephanie (Bruce) Danielson, Plymouth; Francine (John) Hanson, Ham Lake. A celebration of Lorraine’s life will be scheduled at a later date. Cards or memorials may be sent to: Family of Lorraine Klobuchar, 2032 Chippewa Shores, Ely, MN 55731.

Mayme J. Peranich, 95, died on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Stoney River Memory Care, Marshfield.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, where the visitation will be from 2:00 pm on Wednesday until service time.
Mayme was born on August 17, 1922 in Ely, Minnesota to John F. and Angela (Kavschek) Germek and was a graduate of Ely High School. She was united in marriage to John S. Peranich in 1942 in Milwaukee. He died on May 11, 2012.
Shortly after their marriage Mayme and her husband lived in New Berlin where they resided until retirement. They then returned to Ely and resided on Burntside Lake where they enjoyed the outdoors being on the water, fishing, and mom also loved to entertain with family and friends. Mayme also liked traveling with John and they frequented the Caribbean, enjoying scuba diving.

William“Bill” K. Loe, 77 passed away peacefully on Dec. 12, 2017 at Little Hospice in Edina. He died from complications of ALS. Preceded in death by his parents and brother, Terry. He is survived by wife, Alice; son, Mark (Skye); daughter, Jessica; granddaughter, Kiley; brother, Rodney (Mae Kathryn); sister, Janice (Arvid) Behrens and many nieces and nephews.
Bill attended school in Slayton and Ely, MN. He worked at Reserve Mining in Babbitt and owned and operated the Dray Freight Line in Ely for several years until he graduated from Ely Jr. College, and then went onto St. Cloud State University to graduate Summa Cum Laude. He pursued his career in human relations and labor negotiations with several corporations domestically and internationally.
In later years he owned and successfully operated a para medical business. He also was a certified appraiser of classic autos.

George D. Zembal, 63, of Ely, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital. George loved to cook for people and make them laugh. He had friends everywhere he went and would never hesitate to help someone out. His food and jokes will be missed, especially his famous grilled pizza.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Lori; daughter and son-in-law, Samantha and Kyler Hauschildt; father-in-law, George Ryktyo; siblings, Jerry (Nancy) Zembal, Jack (Joette) Zembal, and sister Jeanne Zembal; and many wonderful friends, especially Dean Hanninen.
Preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Gladys Zembal; brother, Tommy Zembal; and mother-in-law, Nancy Rykyto.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely with visitation taking place one half hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Renee Marie Lutwinko, 68, of Chisholm, returned peacefully to the Lord Thursday, December 7, 2017, at home. She was born May 4, 1949, in Ely, MN, to Thomas C. and Louise E. (Warner) LeRoy. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and retired from NTS as an Environmental Laboratory Manager.
Renee was united in marriage on July 17, 1992, in Hibbing to Clifford L. Lutwinko. She was a member of Chisholm Baptist Church and enjoyed planning events for family get-togethers, gardening, the outdoors, travelling around the world with her husband, and volunteering for Hospice and Habitat for Humanity.

William L. Herzberg, 82, of Ely, passed away at his home on Friday, December 8, 2017. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Mildred Eva (Kowalski) Randall, 89, passed away peacefully on Dec 7, 2017 in Burnsville, MN, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimers. Millie has been reunited with her husband Bill, daughter Marlys and infant son, brothers: Donald, Clarence, Louis Kowalski, sister Delores, and parents Stephen and Edith Kowalksi. Survived by daughters: Karen Nelson, Ann Tess, Jean Alaspa, Loretta (Jeffrey) Benedict, and Brenda Sweet (Dale Boltz); 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, her brother Richard Kowalski and many other family and friends. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, December 12, at 11am White Funeral Home, Burnsville MN.

William “Billy” Frank Mayerle, 67, of Ely died Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Essentia Health Virginia Care Center.
William was born July 18, 1950 to Frank and Edith Margaret (Nichols) Mayerle in Virginia, MN and grew up and was a life- long resident of Ely, graduating in the Class of 1969.
Upon graduation he worked for James G-Men for a short period and then as an equipment operator for the City of Ely until his retirement, and also was a member of the Ely Volunteer Fire Department.
Billy had a passion for fishing on Basswood Lake since he was a child, and he and his friends went almost every Saturday from fishing opener until after Labor Day. He also enjoyed ice fishing and snowmobiling, but most of all he loved his family and grandsons.
Billy is survived by his daughter Kathie (Shawn) Hill, four grandsons, Timothy, Adam, Bryce Williamson and Easton Hill, all of Winton, MN. Along with many close friends.

Carol Delores (Ostlund) Austreng, 83, longtime Babbitt resident, died December 7, 2017 at Carefree Living in Babbitt. Family arrangements are by Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Ralph Frank Sershen, 85, of West St. Paul, MN formerly of Ely, passed away on December 5, 2017.
Survived by wife Elizabeth (Birch) Sershen, son Frank (Sue) Sershen, daughters: Barb (Chuck) Elliott, Marie (Chris) Coyne and Jean Sershen (Chris Tomhave), 8 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Ralph was preceded in death by mother and father, Frank and Mary (Vertnik) Sershen and brother, Donald Sershen.