Obituaries: December 22, 2023

Robert C. Wilson
Robert “Bob” Clinton Wilson, 89, of Lake Vermilion, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower. Pastor Richard Blood officiated. Interment will take place in Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth at a later date. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Vermilion Lake Association, PO Box 236, Cook, MN 55723. Family services provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.
Bob was born on Oct. 25, 1934, in Minneapolis, the only child of Clinton “Ross” and Beda Aronson Wilson. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School where he played basketball and trumpet. He went on to earn an electronics degree from the Dunwoody Institute of Technology. Bob married Joan Johnson on June 20, 1959, and together they had two boys, Scott and Mark. After graduating from Dunwoody, Bob started his career with AT&T in electronics and progressed to sales, marketing and management. His career with AT&T took him and his family from Minneapolis to Kansas City, the Bay area of California, and finally New Jersey, where he stayed with AT&T until his retirement in 1989.
No matter where Bob lived, his heart was always at Lake Vermilion. He had family on the lake, and during his childhood, he vacationed with his parents at their cabin. He carried on this tradition with his own boys. After retiring at age 55, he finally built his dream home on the lake in 1991, where he lived until he died. He enjoyed woodworking, built four wood boats, and completed most of the woodwork on his dream home. After Bob retired, he gave much of his time to the Vermilion Lake Association by serving as treasurer, pioneering the invasive species program, working on the shore lunch sites and more.
Bob also volunteered at St. James Presbyterian Church in Tower as treasurer and board member. Bob enjoyed singing, and sang with a barber shop chorus, the church choir, and the Choralaires of Virginia. He also enjoyed driving and working on his 1968 Volvo P1800S and attending car events throughout the country.
Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan; son, Scott (Laura); daughter-in-law, Jill; and granddaughter, Leah Peterson. He will be greatly missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Mark.

Dane C. Francis
Dane Clark Francis, 62, of Cook, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. A private interment will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Joyce L. Rude
Joyce L. Rude, 90, of Virginia, formerly of Silverdale, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Waterview Pines Nursing Home in Virginia. A graveside service will be held in the spring at Celina Cemetery. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
Joyce was born on Aug. 21, 1933, in Alango Township, to William and Elvi Maki Laine and graduated from Alango High School in 1951. On Nov. 14, 1953, she married Nels Rude in Cook and they made their home in Silverdale. Joyce was Secretary of the Silverdale Farmers Club for 26 years, former President and member of the Cook VFW Auxiliary, and a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Virginia where she served on the church council. Joyce and Nels also ran Rude Lumber and Feed in Cook for 13 years.
Joyce is survived by her children, JoNell (Daniel) O’Neil of St. Paul and Chris Rude of Virginia; sister, Susan Donnell of Prescott, Ariz.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and sister-in-law, Beverly Laine of Mesa, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Elvi Laine; husband, Nels in 1999; brother, William Laine in 2013; and brother-in-law, Phillip Donnell.

Leonard R. Raati IV
Leonard Raymond Raati IV, 52, longtime resident of Ely, and member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, died on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, in his home. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22 at the Legacy Church in Virginia. Pastor Gene Sherrod will be the officiant. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Field Township Cemetery. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
Leonard is survived by his parents, Leonard and Donna Raati of Angora; children, Leonard Raati V of Ely, Mercedes Tibbetts of Virginia and Kyle (Lindsey) Russ of Ely; siblings, Amanda Skot, Carla (Craig) Fiedor, Edward (Ashley) Raati, Alberta (Paul) Warwas, Veronica Johnson and Ana (Josh) Black; six grandchildren; former wife, Denise Slaughter of Ely; maternal grandmother, Joan Luhta of Ely; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Donna L. Morrison
Donna L. Kallio Morrison, 72, of Hibbing, originally of Angora, died on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, at Heritage Manor in Chisholm. A gathering of family and friends was held on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing. Spring interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Angora.
She is survived by her children, Charlene (Joe) Johnson and Craig Morrison, both of Hibbing; siblings, Donald (Peggy) Kallio of Washington, Douglas Kallio of Mt. Iron and Delores Kallio of Buhl; granddaughter, Rachael Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

Dennis E. Imberg
Dennis Eugene Imberg, 77, of Tower, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, at Essentia Health in Virginia after a courageous eight-year battle with cancer. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. celebration of life on Saturday, Jan.13, 2024, at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. Private inurnment will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik.
Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. 
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Bonnie; daughters, Heather Imberg and Tani (Jim) Reilly; grandchildren, Jared, Austin, Kiera and Teagan; sister, Patricia (Joe) Kovich; nephews, Jay and Troy; and numerous family members and friends.

Wesley Weisinger
Wesley Weisinger, 46, of Winton, passed away at his residence on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Veterans on the Lake in Ely. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely. 
The family would like to thank Jake Mather for always being there for Wesley; the staff at Fresenius Dialysis Unit in Eveleth; Dr. Smith of Essentia in Virginia; Dr. Erik Wendland, Nephrologist; all the other many doctors and nurses who helped Wesley in the last 37 years; Essentia East Range Hospice; Dr. Keith Peterson and Jo who made things so much easier during the last nine weeks of his life. 
He is survived by his father, Neil (Sheila); mother, Barbara; siblings, Jennifer (Jason), Stacy (Allan) and Darrin (Denton); nieces, Reagan, Addyson, Eden, Avary and Amiah; brothers-in-law, Jeremiah and Aaron; stepsister, Jessica (Cody) and their kids Jeffery, Dominic and Elliana; stepbrothers, John (Alyssa) and their kids Hailey, Ryder and Johnny, Austin and his son James, and Ashton; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Anna F. Crockett
Anna Faye Crockett, 84, of Ely, passed away at her home on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Nathan E. Plunkett
Nathan E. Plunkett, 52, of Alango, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Essentia Health Virginia Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.