Obituaries

Mary (Bianchi) Gray, 75, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Essentia Health- St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents Marcella and Peter Bianchi, and stepfather Paul Lobe.
Mary is survived by her husband George Gray, her daughters: Marcy (Allan) Bubb, Tanya (Keith) Akins, Georgia (Jason) Akins, and Amanda (Lance) Horvat, her sisters Gloria Smuk and Judy (Ted) Curn; grandchildren Alanna, Klaeton, Hailey, Andrea, Jacob, Chase, Caitlin, Alec, Aiden, Carter, Makenna, and Jack. Nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The family of Mary wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the CICU unit of Essentia Duluth and all her family and friends for all their love and support.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 3, 2018, with visitation an hour earlier, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church with Father Method presiding. A reception will follow at the Church.

Helen (Prasnicki) Laitinen, 73, of Princeton, MN, peacefully passed away on October 23rd 2018 with loving family at her side.
Helen was born in Gilman, Wisconsin to John and Helen Prasnicki on February 24th, 1945 and graduated high school in Silver Bay, Mn. Prior to retirement she worked as a receptionist for The University of Minnesota Foundation for 12 years in Minneapolis. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family, and friends. She will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
Helen is preceded in death by husband Gary Laitinen, parents John and Helen Prasnicki, and brothers Stephen and Frank Prasnicki.
Helen is survived by her children Tim (Lynn) Laitinen, Chris Laitinen, Bill (Cynthia) Laitinen, Steve Laitinen, Nancy (Chris) McCormick. Brothers and sisters Aloys Prasnicki, Rita (Jim) Garni, Liz Hyrkas, Roger (Rosalin) Prasnicki, and Julie (Butch) Ernst, 17 Grandchildren and seven Great-Grandchildren.

Angela F. “Angie” Golobich, 93, of Ely died peacefully on Friday, October 26, 2018 at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. She was born on May 29, 1925 in Ely to Matthew and Gertrude (Zaverl) Vertnik and graduated from Ely Memorial High School, class of 1943. Following high school, Angie worked in retail at the local J.C. Penney store until she married Anton “Tony” Golobich on September 30, 1947, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. They had three children: Roberta, Gerald and Russell.

Karen Josephine Jiacik, 78, was born June 15, 1940 in Ely. The Lord called her home on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital.
She married the love of her life Richie on October 15, 1960 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Ely. She enjoyed selling Avon 50 plus years to customers who became life-long friends. She loved spending time with her family and one of her favorite times was spending it in R & K patio with Richie admiring her beautiful flowers.
She was an avid Vikings and Gopher hockey fan.
Preceded in death by her parents Charles and Lillian Starkman, in-laws Pete and Ann Jiacik, siblings: Kenneth, Lorraine Schuler, Sandy Starkman and grandson Rustin Richards.

Molly F. Milberry age 89 of Crosby died on October 23, 2018 at Heartwood Senior Living in Crosby. She was born on November 29, 1928 in Ely, MN to Joseph and Mary (Stefan) Gotchnik.
Molly attended school in Ely until she moved to Crosby when she was 15 to help her aunt, Molly Domin, run her boarding house for miners. She graduated from the Crosby-Ironton High School. Molly married Joseph “Bud” Milberry in Crosby on March 29, 1947. She worked as a seamstress in her home while raising her four children. She then worked at Bierman’s Locker, which later became Mr. Meats. In 1994 she retired from the Crosby Clinic in Crosby where she was clinic manager. Molly was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crosby, the CCW and the National Catholic Society of Foresters, St. Mary’s Court 854.

Joseph (Happy Joe) John Zupancich Jr., 80 of Soudan, Minnesota, died peacefully at his home on October 22, 2018. He was born on August 10, 1938, in Ely to Joseph Sr. and Mary (Gasperlin) Zupancich.
Joe graduated from Ely High School in 1956 where he served as his senior class president. Following graduation he left to attend college at St. Thomas University to hone his entrepreneurial skills to help run the family business, Zupancich Brother’s Incorporated (Zup’s). Joe gave up his dream of becoming a Tommy graduate to marry the love of his life on July 9, 1960. Joe and Mary Lou raised five children; all of them worked at Zup’s to learn the family business. Happy Joe, a self-proclaimed “Sausalogist,” loved working side by side with his sons every day. He could often be found sipping coffee with the guys in the spice room of Zup’s; bestowing his wisdom and one liners to his captive audience.

Glen “Scratch” Zorman, 61, of Ely, lived until Saturday, October 13, 2018. He spent his final days at home cared for by his loving wife, Lynn, his family, friends and faithful dog, Jani.
Glen was born in Ely on April 22, 1957, the seventh child of Art and Betty Ann (Tjader) Zorman. He was an Air Force veteran and spent most of his life in Ely. Glen lived a unique life after a serious car accident in 1982 should have taken him, but we were gifted with many extra years. He thoroughly enjoyed his friends from all over the country who always made a point to stop and visit.
Glen was blessed with luck and love when he met his best friend, Lynn, whom he married in 2013. Those were his happiest years. His many friends will remember NASCAR races, rides around the lake, the occasional cocktail, and of course, an exaggerated story. He will be greatly missed.

Marilyn Rose (Mihelcic) Hays, 88, of Mendota Heights, MN is reunited with her parents John and Rose Mihelcic, husbands LeRoy and Alfred and brother John with our Lord Jesus on October 13, 2018.
Survived by daughter Jennifer (Chris) and son Sean (Paula), grandchildren Logan, Connor, Amye, Ryan, Zakk, and great grandchildren Carson, Zoie and great great grandchildren Aiyden and Aryia, sister-in-law Agnes, nieces Jean (John), Marian, grand nieces Catherine, Elizabeth, Christine, Erin, and nephews Jim (Karen), John and Joe (Barb). Marilyn was born in Ely, MN on April 26, 1930.

Jo-Ellen Patterson passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely MN.
Jo-Ellen was born on June 12, 1937 to John and Ellen Kotzian. She married the love of her life Kimbel Patterson on June 23, 1956 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ely and they were married for 53 years.
Jo-Ellen loved spending time with her “Mister” (Kim) countless hours of dancing, fishing, camping and numerous projects throughout their life. Jo-Ellen worked in the food services industry most of her life. She will always be remembered for her years at the Ely Memorial Senior High School lunch room. Jo-Ellen and her partner Julie Musich ran MAPS Catering Service for more than 20 years. Her proudest moment being catering for the American Legion World Series Baseball tournament in 1980.
She was preceded in death by her husband Kim, her parents John and Ellen, and her brother Patrick and sister in law Betty Kotzian.