Obituaries - Jul. 20, 2018

Edna H. Lamppa

Edna Helena Lamppa, 89, of Tower, passed away on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at Diamond Willow Advanced Care Assisted Living in Mt. Iron. Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower with Pastor Liz Cheney officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Arrangements were with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.

She was born at home on May 9, 1929, the daughter of Henry and Anna (Knutti) Hiltunen, in Vermilion Lake Township, where she grew up. Edna was united in marriage to Herbert Lamppa on Jan. 24, 1948, in Vermilion Lake Township. They made their home in Tower where she and Herb owned and operated the Tower Dairy for over 25 years.

Edna was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Tower, where she was active in the ELCA and also was a past member of the Homecraft Club. She was an avid sports fan while raising her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful baker who was known for her great pies. Edna had a way with animals and loved all the pets she had over the years.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Herbert Lamppa of Tower; children, Faye (Nick) Tekautz of Soudan, Daryl (Cheryl) Lamppa of Lake Vermilion-Tower, Gayle (Philip) Lamppa of Chicago, Randall (Sharon) Lamppa of Texarkana, Ark., and Steve (Sonja) Lamppa of Duluth; grandchildren, Brendon Lamppa, Garrett Lamppa, Blaine Lamppa, Andrea Vlaminck, Lindsey Lamppa, Delia Durfee and Reece Lamppa; great-grandchildren, Taimi Lamppa, Henry and Elizabeth Vlaminck and Weston and Everett Durfee; nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Maryann Hiltunen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Elsie Hiltunen, Emily (Chester) Kangas, Leonard Hiltunen, Elma (Hugo) Hanka, Hazel (Harvey) Mattson, Toivo (Louella) Hiltunen, Helia (John) Murphy, Evelyn (Robert) Hendrickson, Arvid Hiltunen, Margaret Hiltunen and twin brother Edward Hiltunen (in infancy); niece, Donna Mattson; and nephews, Russell and Marvin Kangas.

Mary Joy Lenont

Mary Joy Giblin Lenont, 66, of Eagles Nest-Ely, and Lake Vermilion-Tower, passed away on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. A Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 23 at Virginia Elks Lodge 1003 with Kristin Foster officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. As she requested, family and friends are invited to celebrate Mary Joy’s life with good food, libations, live music and much dancing, immediately following the service. The family invites friends to bring an “MJ story” with them to share during the evening of celebration. In lieu of memorials, MJ requested that her friends plant a tree in her memory. Burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Mary Joy was born on March 25, 1952, to James and Joy (Lenont) Giblin Sr. in Virginia. During her formative years she spent many summers at her family’s cabin at Eshquaguma Country Club in Gilbert, where she enjoyed swimming, golfing, playing tennis and, in general, living the Life of Reilly.

She graduated from Virginia High School, attended Hamline University and graduated from St. Cloud State University. As a young woman she owned the Biwabik Times and the Range Facts and was the youngest female newspaper publisher ever in the state of Minnesota. She lived for a number of years in the Twin Cities where she worked in public relations for Kamstra Communications and Tennant Co.

Appropriately named, MJ was a joyous person who was interested in everyone and everything. Her imagination knew no bounds, she saw possibilities where others saw none, and if anyone told her she couldn’t do something she wanted to do, she did it.

Mary Joy was an accomplished fisherwoman and loved nothing more than wetting a line - except, perhaps, music. Music, she believed, could heal the world.

Mary Joy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 30s and through modern medicine and strength of will, triumphed over that disease. Sadly, her battle with cancer didn’t go so well despite her trademark feistiness and positive attitude.

MJ is survived by her brother, James “Mick” (Kathy Nelson) Giblin Jr. of Gilbert; sister, Kathleen “Kate” Giblin of Gilbert; longtime partner and friend, Jim Laine Sr. of Lake Vermilion-Tower; best friend, Jean Cole (Tom Rukavina) of Pike Township; and her beloved dog, Rico.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Claude T. Lakoskey

Claude Thomas “Tom” Lakoskey, 68, of Tower, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018, at St. Michael’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Virginia. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower with Pastor Liz Cheney officiating. A gathering time for family and friends will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.

Tom was born in Cook on Nov. 14, 1949, the son of Claude and Marjorie (Edwards) Lakoskey. He lived in Gheen until moving to Tower at the age of three. Tom worked as a millwright and owned and operated C.C. Construction in Tower. He managed the Iron Ore Bar in Tower the last 20 years, for his mother, before retiring. Tom enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing and woodworking. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

He is survived by his children, Tommy Lakoskey of Hoyt Lakes, Todd (Heidi Olson) Lakoskey of Island Lake, Stefanie (Aaron) Gornick of Soudan and Larissa (Luc Karpik) Lakoskey of Virginia; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Jerry “Kuby” Lakoskey of Chicago; sisters, Cindy Precht of Tower, Judy Rodriguez of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Nancy (Con) Jamnick of Virginia; numerous nieces and nephews; uncle, Tommy Edwards of Biwabik; cousin and longtime friend, “Tick” Edwards of Britt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Marjorie Lakoskey; brother, Jack Lakoskey; nephew, Jason Lakoskey; and grandson, Treyce Lakoskey.

Clyde A. Koskela

Clyde Andrew Koskela, 83, former resident of Lake Vermilion-Cook, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, with his daughter Jennifer by his side. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Pastor Peter Rosenqvist will be the officiant. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest or directly to the family. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

He is survived by his only child, Jennifer.

Wes Kutsi

Wes Kutsi, 80, of Chisholm, died peacefully on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, July 15 at Rupp Funeral Home and Cremation Service Chapel in Chisholm with Siyanda Elizabeth, Life-Cycle Celebrant, officiating. Private inurnment will take place at a later date in the Alango Township Cemetery.

He is survived by his children, Kevin Kutsi (cat, Maddy) of Ely and Judy (Dennis) Koponen (dog, Aunna-Liisa) of Babbitt; fiancée, Carolyn “Cari” Nelson; and many special cousins.

Amelia Hill

A memorial service for Amelia “Molly” Hill, of Ely, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Ely United Methodist Church with a gathering of family and friends taking place one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers a donation to Northwoods Partners. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.