Obituaries: November 3, 2023

Joann Martin
Joann Riendeau Martin, 89, of Embarrass, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A night visitation was held on Thursday, Nov. 2 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. A luncheon will follow at the Embarrass Town Hall.
Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by her children, Melody, Dale, Billie Jean, Dean and Willy; 16 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce and Beulah; and brother, Willard.

Jean S. Marinaro
Jean S. Marinaro, of Babbitt, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Per her request, there will be no service. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
She is survived by a son, Ronald Marinaro of Lake Vermilion-Tower.

Terrie L. Morrison
Terrie Lynn Morrison, 71, of Virginia, passed away on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, at Chestnut Grove Assisted Living. A wake was held on Saturday, Oct. 28 and a funeral service was held on Sunday, Oct. 29, both at the Bois Forte Tribal Government Center in Nett Lake. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Duluth.

Roger H. Thompson
Roger Howard Thompson, 91, of Ely, died on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at Carefree Living in Ely. A Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely with Rev. Fr. Charlie Friebohle as celebrant. Inurnment was in the Ely Cemetery. Arrangements were with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Schwegel Thompson of Ely; son, Steve (Barb) Thompson of Ely; daughter, Tami (Bernie) Barich of Babbitt; granddaughters, Abigail Thompson, Kelly Thompson and Anne Barich; sister, Marge (Vic) Tellez of Johnson City, Texas; brother-in-law, Don Schwegel of Brooklyn Center; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Anne S. Pyhala
Anne S. Pyhala, 82, of Vermilion Lake Township, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.

Russell Robertson
Russell “Russ” Robertson, 93, of Ely, passed away on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Carefree Living in Babbitt. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Robert L. Wilmunen
Robert “Bob” Lloyd Wilmunen, 86, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 26 at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital with his family at his side, after a ten-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia. A celebration of life will be scheduled for the summer of 2024.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anne Richardson Wilmunen; sister, Shirley Wilmunen of Superior, Wis.; sons, Robert “Rob” Wilmunen of Ely and Bryan (Wendy) Wilmunen of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Beth (Kevin) Hartshorn of Ely, Jay Wilmunen of Phoenix, Jacob (Christel Rudd) Wilmunen, Samuel Wilmunen and Matthew Wilmunen, all of San Antionio, Texas.

Stanley J. Verbick
Stanley James Verbick, 82, of Babbitt, passed away at home on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt. Burial was in the Argo Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his sons, Steve and Thomas (Cheryl); and grandsons, Travis and Dolon.

Richard L. Maki
Richard Leslie Maki, 67, of Buhl, originally of Cook, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, at his residence. A memorial service was held on Friday, Oct. 27 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. A private family burial followed.
He is survived by his brothers, William (Peggy) Maki of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Robert Maki of Ridgecrest, Calif.; nephews, Jeff Maki and Chris (Krista) Maki, both of California; and nieces, Karen (Jeff) Hampton of Indiana and Susan (Brian) Hipp of Missouri.

Frank J. Spollar
Frank Joseph Spollar, 81, of Gilbert, originally of Soudan, passed away peacefully with family and friends by his side, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. A Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, Oct. 28, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert. Arrangements were with Ziemer Moeglein Shatava Funeral Home of Gilbert.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Genny; children, Carine (Paul) Bajda and Gayle (Justin) Forsman; grandchildren, Kendall, Kolton and Gavin Bajda, Abigail and Ailie Forsman; sister, Diane (Mike) Hanzal; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Spollar; many special nieces and nephews; and numerous other family and friends.

Clifford and Christine Johnson
Clifford Johnson, 78, and Christine Johnson, 79, of Babbitt, passed away Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at their residence.
Arrangements are pending with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.