Obituaries

James (Jimmy) Howard Tuomala, 58, passed from this world to his new home in heaven on July 5, 2018 at the Ely Bloomenson Hospital following a hard battle with cancer. He was born in Ely on June 25, 1960, to Michael and Violet (Korpi) Tuomala. He graduated from the Ely Memorial High School, served in the Army National Guard, worked as a manager of a sawmill, and working several capacities, most recently as a supervisor at the North Shore Mine. He spent his spare time studying. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Bachelor of Science (computer), and a Master of Applied Sciences (psychology). Jim’s unfulfilled dream was to become a counselor. He was a member of the Ely Baptist Church and the Masons organization. Jim was passionate about politics, making several bids for public office. Jim had a violin and taught himself to play.

The memorial service for Mildred Wirta, 98 of Wadena, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 13, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Meltzer presiding. Visitation with the family will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.
Mildred was born to Walter and Mary (Mattela) Niemela May 21, 1920 in Biwabik, MN. Mildred Amanda Niemela was united in marriage with Eino Wirta March 8th, 1947 in Ely MN, where they resided for many years.
Mildred was a long time active member at First Lutheran Church of Ely, and she enjoyed serving on various committees. She found joy in spending time with her family, quilting, knitting, embroidering, baking, gardening, playing cards and Farkel.
In May 2015, Mildred moved from Ely to Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena, where she lived until July 7, 2018, when she died peacefully and entered into God’s Kingdom of Glory.

Lorraine Margaret (Snell) Jaeger passed away on July 3, 2018, surrounded by family.
She was born on August 15, 1930 to James and Clara Snell of Marcell, MN. She was the fifth of nine children. Lorraine was a graduate of Deer River High School in the spring of 1949.
She moved to the twin cities campus of the University of Minnesota where she worked as a waitress at the Stadium Cafe. She met Frank, a devoted customer, by serving him a piece of pie and striking up a conversation. This was the start of a life-long relationship that lasted over 61 years. They moved to Colorado Springs for a brief time as Frank served his time in the Army.
Afterwards, they moved to Babbitt, MN in 1959 where they raised their family and became active volunteers in their community.

Richard (Dick) Olson, 74, of Ely passed away on Monday, July 2, 2018 at the Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital.
Dick was born in Ely on December 16, 1943 to Eino and Mayme Olson. He grew up in Winton and graduated from Ely Memorial High School. In 1967, he married Phyllis Koschak and together they raised a son, Brad, and daughter Sarah. Dick retired from North Shore after 32 years in the mining industry as a welder.
He was quite an outdoorsman and spent his time snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and trapping. He enjoyed spending time at his hunting shack, often bringing his children or grandchildren along to share his love of the outdoors with them. He always looked forward to his annual fishing trips to Crooked Lake with his son Brad and grandson Nick.

Deon Lynn (Thomas) LaSart, 69, of Embarrass, passed away June 29, 2018 at Miller Dwan in Duluth.
She grew up in Crosby-Ironton, MN. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Clayton LaSart, and their children: Clayton James of Spring Hill, KS; Lonnie Mathew of Babbitt; Craig Joseph of Gilbert; a sister, Eleanor Kahl of Deerwood, MN; brother Nolan Thomas of Mesa, AZ and many nieces , nephews and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her parents: Arthur “Ralph” Thomas and Myrtle Eleanor Thomas, and sisters: Marilyn Seavey, Sharon Beddow,, Susan Leach and Leora Wynn.
The funeral will held at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Babbitt at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 6. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Roman John (John) Reichensperger, Jr., 82, of Ely, Minnesota and San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife on June 30, 2018 at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, Minnesota. John had battled Hodgkins Lymphoma for 20 years.
There will be a gathering to celebrate John’s life at their lake home on Eagles’s Nest Lake #3 on Sunday, July 8, at 12:30 PM. Formal funeral services will be held later in July in San Antonio, Texas. Burial will follow in late July at the Reichensperger family plot in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
John was born to Roman and Theresa Reichensperger on January 20, 1936 in Waite Park, MN. He graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School and furthered his studies at IBM, Honeywell, US Federal Emergency Management Institute and was a veteran of the United States Army Reserve.

Anne Krmpotich, 59, of North Oaks passed away peacefully at home on June 29, 2018. With her were her daughters she adored, Katherine Marolt and Abigail Marolt, and her spouse, the love of her life and best friend for over 40 years, Dr. Robert Marolt. She is also survived by her mother Constance, sister Patricia Carlson, and brothers Michael and Mark. She was preceded in death by her father Frank.
Anne grew up in Ely MN, and developed an early love of nature, animals, sled dog racing and fishing. Later in life she took up tennis and discovered a whole new world of activity, competition, and a wonderful network of friends. She and Bob loved to travel together, and she always made sure that the next adventure was planned well in advance. Her love of reading was passed on to her girls.

Allen Kosir passed away on June 28, 2018 while at Bethany Skilled Care in Fargo, ND. Allen worked for 30 years at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park and enjoyed woodworking, hunting, and fishing. Allen married Mary Cazin on August 7, 1976 and they have one son Michael (Kristen) and grandson Colin. Surviving siblings are Susan (Jerel) Lamoureux, Martin (Marilyn) Kosir, Vance Kosir, and Lorene (Scott) Johnson. He had many good friends and a number of nieces and nephews. He will be missed.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 2 at 11 a.m. at St .Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely, MN.
Family arrangements entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Cisa Amitrano, 95, of Babbitt, passed away Thursday June 27, 2018, at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely.
Narcisa Bandoni was born on November 3, 1922, in Viareggio, Italy, the daughter of Maria and Alessandro Bandoni. She had many happy memories of growing up on the Mediterranean Sea and spending time with her sister there in that coastal region.
Cisa met and married John Amitrano during WWII while he was stationed in Italy. She came to the United States in 1947, and lived with her husband and infant son in El Paso, Texas, while he remained in the Army until the early ’50s. At that time her husband was stationed in Korea and Cisa and her children moved to Ely, where she could be closer to her husband’s family. In 1958, they moved to Babbitt, MN, where Cisa lived until going into the nursing home in later life.

Karon Kay (Stone) Krause, Show Low, Arizona, was released from her seven year battle with multiple cancers to meet her Lord and Savior on the evening of June 24, 2018. Karon passed peacefully with her husband Duane Krause at her bed side. Hospice Compassus nurses and staff monitored and assisted making her comfortable at life’s end.
Karon was born in July of 1943, born Karon Kay Stone in Downey, California where her father built Liberty ships during WWII. Upon war’s end the family move back home to Wall, South Dakota. Karon lived one block from the famous Wall Drug Store and worked there from grade school through high school. She was active on the cheer squad and other school activities.