Obituaries

Arthur John Pelto, age 80, of Andover, MN passed away peacefully on July 12, 2019 at his home with family present. Art was born on September 20, 1938 in Morse township, MN to John and Elsie (Saari) Pelto. Art attended Ely schools and was a 1956 graduate of Ely Memorial High School. He was a prolific athlete in school, participating in football, swimming, and track and field. Art was an avid hunter and fisherman starting from an early age. He was an accomplished accordion player starting at age 8. Art was united in marriage on June 25th 1960 to Dorothy Rose Zaic, and they raised 3 children. Art was a 38 year employee of US Steel starting as a millwright and later working as a shop electrician. He was elected to and proudly served 1 term as Vice President of his local United Steelworkers’ Union 1938. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Gail Williams Sheddy was born in Lincoln, NE, Sept. 3, 1940 to Mark and Dorothea Williams who predeceased her as did her husband, Gordon and her brother, Mark. Three nieces survive her: Julie Cortinas and Marcia Johnson of Omaha, NE and Amy Engelhart of Turnersvile, NJ, as does her sister-in-law, Barbara Solly of Williamstown, NJ. Gail died in Ely, July 3, 2019.
After living in several Nebraska towns her family settled permanently in Omaha where Gail attended North High School. She was educated at the University of Kansas and joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Afterward she taught briefly in Kansas and then returned to Omaha to teach English and Debate for several years.
Deciding to “see the world” Gail changed careers and began a 38-year adventure with United Airlines. Beginning as a flight attendant, she quickly rose to positions of greater responsibility and considerable leadership.

Robert K. Olson, age 93, of Seeley, WI, died on June 22, 2019 at Aspen Acres Care Center in Hayward.
Robert “Bob” was born December 23, 1925 to Sigurd F. and Elizabeth (Uhrenholdt) Olson, in Ely, Minnesota.
He lived in Ely until he graduated from Ely High School in 1944. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II during 1944 and 1945. After his discharge he attended Northland College in Ashland, WI and Carleton College in Northfield, MN where he majored in International Relations and graduated BA cum laude 1949. He then earned a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at the University of Denver in 1951. During that time he met and married Yvonne O. Urbank of Rhinelander, WI.

Frank Duane Kerntz Sr, age 71, of Ely, passed away on Thursday July 4, 2019. He was born on December 28,1947, to Frank and Rose (Hren) Kerntz. He attended and graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1966. He married Rae Ann Froelich on June 22, 1974 and recently celebrated 45 years together and were blessed with three children; Frank Jr, Brian and Deanna. Frank was a proud Papa of his grandchildren: Olivia, Silas, Daxton and Brue. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed and appreciated the outdoors. Frank served in the US Army in Vietnam as a combat field medic from 1970-1972. Frank was a lifelong member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Men’s Bible Group, the Ely American Legion and the Ely VFW.
Frank attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science. He then joined Kerntz Funeral Home and along with his brother Terry they purchased the business from their brother Jim and was a co-owner until his death.

James Robert Maki of Ely, 70, died on July 6, at his home on Burntside Lake. He was where he loved to be, doing what he loved, fishing.
Born on August 24, 1948 in Ely Minnesota, Jim was the son of Luella (Erickson) Maki and Robert William (Ropey) Maki. After graduating from Ely High School, Jim joined the Army serving from September 1967 until December 1970. He was in the 173rd Airborne Division, the 41st Battalion, working as an MP. He sustained injuries in Vietnam.

Myron “Mike” Meier, 79, died on April 24, in Austin, MN. His obituary can be read at clasenjordan.com
A celebration of his life will be held in Ely at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 18, at the First Presbyterian Church. The family prefers memorials to our Ely Presbyterian Church or the Northwoods Hospice Respite Partners.

Adolph Levar, born of Matt and Marie Levar in Ely, Minnesota on May 28, 1930, passed away July 4th, 2019 at 89 years old.

He was a hard working miner, well known fishing guide, and talented musician. He was a U.S. soldier in the Korean war.

His door was always open to family and friends. He played the button box accordian at many parties filled with laughter and memories. He also loved and spent a lot of time at his cabin on Burntside Lake, This brought him so much joy which he shared with family and friends. He was very grateful for the kindness and love they shared with him.

Josephine F. “Dolly” (Zaverl) Grahek, 95, passed away while surrounded by family members on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Ely.
She was born September 27, 1923, in Ely, the daughter of Austrian immigrants John and Jozefa Zaverl.
Dolly grew up in Ely and was an honors graduate, in 1941, of Ely Memorial High School. Starting in high school and well into her 20s, Dolly worked as a bookkeeper at the original Zup’s Grocery Store.
After World War II, Dolly became engaged and later married Albert Grahek. Together, they raised three daughters and established a home on “top of the hill” on the 800 Block of East Conan Street in Ely.

Ladonna Edna Bramley, age 88, of Babbitt, passed away March 15, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN.
She was born November 22, 1930 in Charter Oak, IA to Erwin C. Greene and Edna M. (Nemitz) Greene, the oldest daughter of five children. She was married July 3, 1948 in Long Prairie, MN to Lloyd T. Bramley of Dow City, IA. To this union, six children were blessed: Cynthia, Cheryl, Deborah, Judith, David, and Brian.

Barbara Ann (Fredrickson) Tolman, passed away June 15th, 2019 surrounded by her loving family, after a brief stay at the Good Samaritan Society Center in Blackduck. She was taken care of by the wonderful staff of GSSC and Hospice Care.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Solway Lutheran Church with Pastor Jeremiah Holst officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2019 with a Time of Sharing beginning at 7 p.m. at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Meadowview Cemetery, Solway.