Obituaries

Anthony P. Merhar, 69, of Babbitt, passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020 at Boundary Waters Care in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Ann Marie Bye, 72, of Ely, passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Arrangements are pending with Range Funeral Home in Hibbing.

Michael W. Baldwin, 85, of Babbitt, passed award Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Funeral arrangements are pending with the Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Feudor Aijala, 84, Silver Bay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.
Feudor was born on April 20, 1936 to Felder and Saima (Mattson) Aijala in Ely where he grew up and attended Ely Junior College. Feudor continued his education at the University of MN- Duluth, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Education and later a Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota. Moving to Silver Bay, Feudor taught 6th grade for 34 years, specializing in Social Studies. He had a love of history and was a great storyteller.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed turkey hunting in the Black Hills and fishing the northern lakes. He also enjoyed listening to music.
Feudor was fond of his heritage and enjoyed collecting Finnish Puukko knives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Ruth and Arleen.

Norma Kramar
On a warm summer day on June 22nd 1929, Norma arrived in the world. She was born on the family farm near Foley, MN to proud parents Anna and Ernest Eckholm. The family grew over the next few years, adding siblings Harvey, Clyde and Byron. Norma graduated from Foley High School and attended St Cloud State University, graduating with a teaching degree.
After graduation, Norma taught in the communities Ogilvie, Crosby and Forest Lake. Her summers were filled with adventures. One summer, Norma travelled to Alaska with some other teachers to teach Inuit children at the fishing villages. Another summer, she and some friends went to Europe, travelling from Italy to Sweden. She stopped in Germany to visit her brother Harvey, who was stationed there at the time.

Feudor Aijala, 84, Silver Bay, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.
Feudor was born on April 20, 1936 to Felder and Saima (Mattson) Aijala in Ely where he grew up and attended Ely Junior College. Feudor continued his education at the University of MN- Duluth, obtaining a Bachelor’s in Education and later a Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota. Moving to Silver Bay, Feudor taught 6th grade for 34 years, specializing in Social Studies. He had a love of history and was a great storyteller.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed turkey hunting in the Black Hills and fishing the northern lakes. He also enjoyed listening to music.
Feudor was fond of his heritage and enjoyed collecting Finnish Puukko knives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Ruth and Arleen.

Max A. Zoretic, 88, formerly of Ely, Babbitt, and Zephyrhills FL, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2020 in Silver Bay MN.
He graduated from Hibbing High School in 1950 along with his high school sweetheart, Jean Nordstrom. Max proudly served in combat for the Minnesota Army National Guard 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He then worked as a welder for Reserve Mining Company and also owned/operated a Roto Rooter franchise.
Max married his high school sweetheart Jean in 1955 and moved to Ely where they raised their five daughters on Beacon Hill. In 1993, they became "snowbirds" enjoying retirement life in Florida.
Max was preceded in death by his loving wife Jean of 53 years in 2008, grandson Jon Max Rice, brother Vince and sister Bernadine.

Julia “Julie” Claire (Nystrom) Palombi passed away surrounded by family in Cloquet, Minnesota on October 31, 2020 after a years-long battle with dementia.

Julie was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1946 and spent the majority of her childhood and adult life in Babbitt and Ely. Julie was passionate about fishing, hunting, and enjoying the outdoors. Early in her career, Julie worked as a teacher and basketball coach in Ely.

CORLEY, Mary Magdalene (Ryan)
January 12, 1940 October 26, 2020
Born to James and Margaret Popesh Ryan in Ely. Grandparents Michael and Margaret Sever Popesh, Ely, and James and Barbara Taylor Ryan of rural Aitkin. Preceded in death by parents, grandparents, brother James, brothers-in-law Frank Weisinger and Leonard Fox, sister-in-law Karen Ryan.
Mary is survived by her husband of 59 years Daniel Martin Corley, three daughters: Cynthia Mastick, (Grant), Lyn Ostar(John) and Stephanie McNicholas, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren on the way. Also survived by 6 sisters: Margaret Fox, Theresa Weisinger, Jean (Jack) Corley, Barbara (Robert) Carnes, Veronica (Paul) DuPuis, Elizabeth (Larry) Alexander and two brothers: Joseph (Sharon) and John (Gailyn) Ryan and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mathew J. Baudek, 91, of Babbitt, MN completed his earthly life on October 30, 2020.

He was born the youngest to parents Matt and Jennie Baudek, adored by three sisters and raised in Ely. He graduated high school and honorably served his country from 1948-1951 in allied-occupied Germany post WWII. Back stateside, he was a police officer in Ely for a short time until marrying Rita Kylmala in 1952. Together Matt and Rita were blessed with raising six children in Ely, sharing 64 years of marriage until Rita’s passing in 2016.