Obituaries

Charles “Charlie” Jonas, 65, of Ely, passed away peacefully at his home on June 21, 2021.
Charlie ws born on November 7, 1955 to Marvin and Cecelia Jonas. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a very talented woodburning artist. His artwork can be seen in homes around the world.
Charlie was most proud of his children and the wonderful adults they have become. Being a “PaPa” filled his heart with a special love. Madison, Timothy and Braden brought endless joy to his life.
Charlie will be greatly missed by his wife of 40 years, Patsy, his children Greg (Sarah), Tina (Colin) as well as his brothers, nieces and nephews.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Albert O. Zupancich, 74, of Virginia , passed away peacefully June 14, 2021, at his home after a courageous 16 month battle with cancer.
Al was born in Ely, MN on March 2, 1947, the first child of Albert and Margaret (Owen) Zupancich.
He was active in scouting, earning the rating of an Eagle Scout. Al played hockey throughout his high school years and grew up working in the family grocery store. He graduated from Ely High School in 1965 and attended Ely Junior College and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1969.
After owning several grocery stores, he eventually found his home in Eveleth. He proudly owned and operated Eveleth IGA for over 35 years. Al had a strong commitment to his customers and was well known for his generosity and kindness to all. He had many valued employees whom he considered family.

Clarence Joseph “Buzz” Boutelle, 94, of Lawrence, KS, formerly of Texas and Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2021.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Evelyn; daughter, Linette; brothers, Dave, Dwight, and Clayton; sisters, Mary Alice, Louise, Martha, and Alma; son-in-law, Richard Brock.

Dolores R. (nee Stricula) Moen, 92 of Valparaiso In, formerly of Ely MN, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021. She was born April 13, 1928 in Chicago IL to John and Mary (née Bulak) Urban. Dolores made her career for many years as a bookkeeper in the Chicago area, before moving to Ely with her husband Ronald. While in Ely she obtained her college degree and also worked with the Federal Forest Dept as a senior citizen employee. After moving to Valparaiso IN Dolores stayed busy with her senior friends with breakfast, bingo and travels all over the world. Dolores will be remembered for her friendly personality and generous nature. She is a beloved wife, mother and grandmother who is dearly missed.

Murn, Dr. Brian F. "Bud",
age 93, of Brooklyn Center, MN. He was born in Ely, MN on November 26, 1927. He died on June 6th, 2021. Bud was the third child born to Thomas and Mary Murn of Ely, MN, where his dad was a school teacher. In the summers, Bud's parents managed Basswood Lodge inside what has now become the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). He guided guests from the lodge on Basswood Lake throughout high school and college and loved to fish throughout his life. Bud joined the Navy shortly after his high school graduation in 1945, and served as Seaman First Class until August 1946. Following his service, he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree in 1953. Bud met the love of his life, Donna Wimmer on a ski slope in Colorado in 1956, and they were married in 1957.

Marianne Markovich Donovan, 72, passed peacefully at Boundary Waters Care Center on Friday, June 4, 2021. She was born on August 2, 1948, at the Shipman Hospital in Ely, MN, to her dear parents Julius and Ruth (LeRoy) Markovich.
She married the love of her life Daniel Joseph Donovan in 1971. They loved their life on an area farm and Marianne was particularly fond of dogs, especially her last and favorite of all, a mini dachshund named Chloe.
She is survived by daughter Julie (Lance) Lohman and grandchildren Mike and Eric, son Robert White and grandchildren Hanna and Lydia. Siblings Patsy (Dennis) Gowell, Jimmy (Nanci) Markovich and Susie (Dean) McCauley as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, great-grandchildren and a few special friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel, her parents Julius and Ruth, and granddaughter Jessica Lohman.

Michelle "Shelley" Karen Voll passed away unexpectedly June 3, 2021, at St. Mary's hospital in Duluth, MN. She was born August 5, 1967, in Ely, MN to Melvin and Karen (Burshem) Voll. She graduated in 1985 from Ely Memorial high school and went on to attend business school in St. Cloud where she would receive her degree. On October 24, 1987 she married Frank Joseph Akins in Ely, MN. Frank and Shelley would reside in the Twin Cities area until 1998 then moved to Soudan, MN. Shelley, while in the Cities area, worked for Norwest Mortgage Company before moving back to the Iron Range where she would work for CW Sato Travel in Ely, MN.

Frank Mathew Jaeger, passed away at the age of 86 on June 3rd at his home in Babbitt. He was born on October 23rd, 1934 to Frank and Mary (Musich) Jaeger in Ely, MN. He was a 1952 graduate of Ely High School, attended Vermilion Junior College, then graduated from the University of MN School of Pharmacy in 1956.

Frank married Lorraine (Snell) on September 29, 1956 in Ely. They moved to Babbitt in 1959 where he owned Babbitt Drug and worked as the pharmacist for 52 years until his retirement in 2011.

Vondalee Schreffler, 81, of Ely, passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth on Monday May 31, 2021.
She was born in Danbury, Wisconsin to Ernest and Margaret Carpenter on July 10, 1939.
On July 16, 1955 she married the love of her life, Theodore Schreffler, and spent 65 years together. Together they raised six children.
Vonda cleaned for the Ely Clinic for many years until her retirement.
Vonda loved raising cows and chickens. She also liked to berry pick and trout fish.
Vonda is survived by her children, Shelby (Greg) Hochman of Bloomington, MN, Ted Jr. (Heather) Schreffler of Eveleth, MN, Glen (Melodee) Schreffler of Babbitt, MN, Eugene (Robbie) Schreffler of St. Paul, MN, Roger Schreffler of Ely, MN, James (Tricia) Schreffler of Ely, MN; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; niece and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, and her parents Margaret and Ernest.

Gretchen Ann Ahlquist, 69, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Monday, May 31, 2021.
Gretchen was born to Edwin and Leora Harder on October 30, 1951. She graduated from Wayzata High School and Mankato State University. On August 26th, 1978 she married the love of her life, Kevin Walter Ahlquist. Together they raised two children, built their own successful auto repair business, and shared many adventures.
Gretchen lived the majority of her life on Long Lake in Mahtomedi, MN, while enjoying many trips to her cabin in Babbitt, MN on beautiful Bear Island Lake where she has permanently resided since her retirement in 2018.
She loved water skiing, berry picking, fishing, boating, relaxing on the beach, a good laugh, gardening and reading a good book. She was happiest on the waters of her favorite Minnesota lakes or the sunny beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast.