Obituaries

Charlotte Wiseman Parish passed away peacefully on August 26th with her family by her side at her Tullahoma home “The Barn,” the same property where the Wiseman dairy farm was once her family’s thriving business.
Charlotte was born on the 19th of July 1937 in Tullahoma, TN to Ollie and Mamye Wiseman. She attended South Jackson Elementary, Tullahoma High School, and The University of Tennessee.
Charlotte was accomplished in so many ways, although many would never know her talents. In one sense, accomplishment is measured by what a person did and in another by who a person was. Charlotte’s focus was on the who rather than the what. She would rather be remembered by who she was rather than what she did. She centered her talents and her love on who she helped and who she supported. But in both, Charlotte lived a remarkable life.

Loving husband, father, and coolest dude, Edward Francis Klimek, was set free from this world on August 28, 2022 at his home in Mountain Iron, Minn., surrounded by his wife and daughters. Ed was born on July 16, 1952 to Elwin and Marvel (Patzoldt) Klimek in Hibbing, Minn. He was born the third of four children. He graduated from JFK High School in Babbitt, Minn. in 1970. He spent his youth on the football field and in the hockey rink, which is how he ended up with his golden tooth. Ed met his babe of a wife, Lynda Kachmarzinski, in high school, and they married at St. Pius Catholic Church on July 21, 1973. They drove off into the sunset in a 1964 Corvette that he painted in time to celebrate their nuptials. They moved first to Mountain Iron, then settled in Embarrass to raise their family. Ed was a proud U.S. Steel employee from 1972 until his retirement in 2006. He served as a surveyor, railroad worker, and finished his career as a millwright.

Keith Vandervort, Ely MN, passed away of natural causes on August 26, 2022 at the age of 60.
Keith was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in journalism and political science.
He started his career in journalism at the Chilton Times-Journal in Wisconsin where he met his wife, Kay. He worked at two newspapers in Fond du Lac and then took a job as a staff photographer at The Record-Eagle in Traverse City MI. Following that position he returned to Fond du Lac as the Chief Photographer at The Reporter then moved to a position as copy editor/page designer for The Reporter and later the regional copy desk for Gannett Wisconsin Media. His final position was as the Ely editor for The Timberjay Newspapers.

Mary Jokela, age 98, of Ely, passed away on August 26, 2022 at Carefree Assisted Living in Ely.
She was born on September 24, 1923 to John and Eva (Silkovich) Tonkovich in Ely.
She was a graduate of the Ely Memorial High School in June 1941. She then attended the Ely Junior College.
During World War II she worked one season as a Fire Guard at the Ely Fire Tower for the U.S. Forest Service.
She also worked in the accounting department of the Oliver Iron Mining Company for three years as a Clerk and a Secretary.
She married Harold A. Jokela on September 21, 1946 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Ely, where she was still a member.
She enjoyed living at their lake home on Eagles Nest Lake Two for 23 years where she and Harold had many happy times with family and friends.

Linda R. Shober, age 74, from Plymouth, MN, formally New Brighton, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with ALS on August 19th.
Linda was a 1966 graduate of North St. Paul High School. The majority of Linda’s career was spent with the Pohlad Companies where she worked as an Executive Assistant for Carl Pohlad for 30+ years.
Linda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She loved knitting, cooking, card making, traveling to Florida during the winter, making her Christmas caramels and cookie platters, spending time with family and special friends, and of course, baseball and her Minnesota Twins.
Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Rose Schwintek.

Fredericka (Freda) A. Puzel Giler, 71, passed away unexpectedly August 14, 2022 at St Mary’s in Duluth MN. Freda was born December 16, 1950 in Ely MN to Fred (Fritz) and Rose Puzel.
Freda was a lifelong resident of Ely and Winton. She graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1969. After graduation she moved to Chicago Illinois to be with her sister Patte. There she met and married Julio Giler. They had 3 daughters. Juleann in 1971, Denise in 1972 and Rhonda in 1975. She then met the love of her life Ron Marolt. They then had a son Ron in 1980.
Freda loved playing bingo and going to Fortune Bay. She was known to adore polka music and never missed a airing of WELYs polka show. She was also immensely proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She lost her partner Ron on October 24, 2014. They spent almost 40 wonderful years together.

Susan Kaye (Hren) Keola, 66, of Superior WI, passed away Wednesday, August 10, surrounded by family and friends at Essentia, Duluth.
Sue grew up in Ely, MN and was proud to be from “the range.” She was a dedicated full-time mother until mining shut downs in the 80s forced her to enter the workforce. She retired from the USPS in 2016 and participated in various types of volunteer work.
Sue was fun, enthusiastic, and up for just about anything. She especially loved to read, travel, listen to music, and spend the day gardening until sundown. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy and she always made a point to support their interests.

Joni Lynn Dahl, 39, of Genoa Location, rural Gilbert, died tragically on Friday, Aug.12, 2022, when her car was hit by a drunk driver on Hwy. 21 in Embarrass Township. She was a true and loyal daughter of the Iron Range who touched a multitude of lives. Funeral services will be private. A celebration of Joni’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. Friends, colleagues and teammates are invited to join the family to share tears, laughter, memories, photos and a meal. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.

Frank A. Planton, 82, of Soudan, MN, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all his family on Sunday, August 14, 2022.

Frank was born on October 11, 1939, to Frank G. Planton and Angela (Yapel) Planton in Soudan, MN. Frank graduated from Tower High School in 1957. In 1959 he started his career at Erie Mining Company where he completed his welding apprenticeship, was a welder for 14 years before becoming a supervisor. In 2001, after 42 years of service, he retired from LTV Steel. He was proud to work in the mines, and he cherished the friendships that he made throughout his career.

On October 21st, 1961, he married the love of his life, Maria Zoe Zupancich and started a family. Frank’s family was his priority. Frank and Zoe were blessed with five loving children and their families.

Rudolf J. Jensen, age 77, of Ames, Iowa died July 28, 2022, at his family’s cabin on Burntside Lake, near Ely, MN.

“Rudy” was born May 19, 1945 in Virginia, MN to Harald R. and Ingrid (Waananen) Jensen. He lived in Ames, IA until 2nd grade when the family moved to Kentucky, Indiana, and finally to Minnesota where he graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School, Roseville, MN and Carleton College, Northfield, MN. He received an MA from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Scandinavian Studies and Literature from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He taught at Grand View College, Des Moines, IA for much of his teaching career. He had strong Scandinavian roots and enjoyed researching local history and Scandinavian immigration.