Obituaries: February 28, 2025

Joseph C. Jam
Joseph Charles Jam, 86, of Ely, passed away on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s in Duluth. A celebration of life will take place this summer. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Joe was born on Jan. 16, 1939, in Minneapolis, to Lloyd and Rose Esler Jam. He was a skilled craftsman of many trades, including the home he designed and built with his wife Denise. He was known for his willingness to help anyone in need and was a big contributor to the community. Joe’s passions were fishing, hunting, skiing, skating, gardening and spending time with family and friends. He was known for making his homemade wine from the grapes he grew in his large garden. Joe loved people and was always ready to lend a hand in any way. But it was his storytelling that made him the life of every gathering.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Denise; children, Bonnie (Bruce) Monsrud and Joey (Laurie Hipple) Jam; stepdaughters, Vicki Rafn, Jeannie (David) Christopherson and Rebecca (Dan) Baumhoefner; sister, Rosemary (James) McNeven; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandson; and many special cousins and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Nancy and Delores; and brother, Jack.

Faye A. Hilgart
Faye Aileen Hilgart, 79, of Sun Prairie, Wis., passed away of natural causes at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Per her wishes, there will be no formal funeral service; her family will scatter her ashes this summer in Lake Vermilion, near her childhood cabin.
In lieu of flowers, the Hilgart family is accepting donations toward a scholarship fund in Faye’s honor for women pursuing a career in mathematics or mathematics education. Please google Faye A. Hilgart Mathematics and Math Education Fund for details.
Faye was born on Oct. 8, 1945, in Soudan, to parents Arnie Branwall and Eline Williams Branwall. She was very connected to the earth, spending as much of her childhood as possible outdoors, including at her family cabin on Lake Vermilion, which her father built himself. Faye was valedictorian of her class at Tower-Soudan High School in 1963 and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in Mathematics Education and Physical Education. She spent her summers as a camp counselor at Camp Birch Trail during college.
After her first teaching job in Minnesota, Faye took her second teaching position in Glidden, Wis., where she met fellow teacher and her future husband, Francis Hilgart, in the fall of 1969. They married on the first day of spring in 1970. Faye and Francis moved to Whitehall, Wis., in 1970, where they took teaching jobs in neighboring school districts and had two children, Erin and Brent. Faye taught at the Blair-Taylor School District for 30 years, from 1970 to 2001. The following school year, Faye started a position in the Madison Area School District as a Mathematics Resource Teacher, where she supported teachers to build teacher and student math confidence, competence and success. Her peers in that role described her as a model and leader among the team of teacher-educators, and the teachers she supported respected her for both her teaching skills and her mathematical knowledge.
Throughout the span of her years as an educator, Faye was quietly accomplished. Faye was the recipient of several of the highest awards in her professional field, including the Wisconsin State Kohl Award, presented by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl, and the 1997 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, granted by the National Science Foundation and for which she was honored at the White House by President Bill Clinton. Faye earned her master’s degree and was ABD (All But Dissertation), completing all of the coursework toward a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at St. Mary’s University in Winona. Faye had her numerous mathematics lessons and professional development articles published in national textbooks and publications.
Faye is survived by her husband, Francis Hilgart of Sun Prairie, Wis.; son, Brent Hilgart of St. Paul; daughter, Erin Hilgart Ed.D and son-in-law, Jose Viñals of Woodstock, N.Y.; and grandchildren, Amel and Liesel Viñals-Hilgart of Woodstock, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnie and Eline Branwall and brother, Dexter Branwall, all of Soudan.

Arnold W. Niemi
Arnold William “Arnie” Niemi, 86, of Virginia, originally of Pike, died on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in his home, surrounded by family. A memorial service was held on Monday, Feb. 24 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Virginia with Pastor Brad Felix officiating. Family services were provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. 
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 63 years, Judy Kober Niemi; daughter, Tammy Sederlund of Virginia; son, Todd Niemi of Superior; grandchildren, Andrew (Danielle Hoppe) Sederlund of Plymouth, Stephanie (Adam) Smith of Chicago, Kaylie Niemi of Moorhead and Rachel Niemi of Rochester, N.Y.; a great-granddaughter on the way; and extended family and friends.

Floyd J. Littler
Floyd James Littler, 93, longtime resident of Babbitt, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, surrounded by his family at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ely, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Corey Larsen will officiate. Burial will take place at the Argo Cemetery in Babbitt in May. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his son, Karl (Kathy) Littler; daughter, Diane (Orrin) Johannessohn; sisters, Charlotte (Burdette Peterson) Jackson and Gladys Jensen; brother, Clifford Littler; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dale J. Marleau
Dale James Marleau, 84, of Ely, passed away at his home on Garden Lake on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at the Ely Cemetery. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.