Obituaries: October 6, 2023

Peter J. Johnson
Peter Jon Johnson, 87, of Lake Vermilion-Tower, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Essentia-Virginia. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and may be sent to the Virginia Community Foundation, 303 West Chestnut St., Virginia, MN 55792 or the Peter and Colette Johnson Family Foundation, PO Box 1746, Breckenridge, CO 80424. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
Peter was a devoted husband and father, a respected local entrepreneur and business owner, and an avid outdoorsman. He had a dynamic personality and a keen sense of humor. Peter was born in Eveleth on Sept. 25, 1936, and was the oldest of four children. He graduated from Virginia High School in 1954, followed by four years at Michigan Technological University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering.
Peter married the love of his life, Colette Kishel. He often gleefully shared the story about the two of them meeting at a Trout Lake Scout camping trip. They had three children and enjoyed living in Britt for more than 30 years.
Peter joined his father’s scramming company known as Johnson and Moore, helping expand operations to include excavation work and contracting for highway heavy construction projects. The company name was changed to Hoover Construction. Years of success followed as the mines expanded throughout the 1970s and taconite plants were built.
Continued success came with Peter’s investments in Minnesota Explosives, Mining Services, and Michigan Limestone Operations. As a respected expert in his field, Peter served in multiple positions on the Associated General Contractors Association of MN including as state president. He was an arbitrator for construction disputes over the years.
Peter was a member of the Young Presidents Organization, the Queen City Federal Bank Board of Directors, the MN Power Board of Directors and the Marshall and Nellie Alworth Scholarship Fund Board of Trustees. Teaching himself to hunt, Peter introduced his children to bird and deer hunting early in their lives. He loved to fish in Canada, spending many summer weekends piloting to his fish camp on Shikag Lake, Ontario. Besides enjoying the Minnesota great outdoors, Peter and Colette traveled extensively with memorable trips to every continent. Peter gave generously to philanthropic endeavors that promoted education and the betterment of his community. He inspired and supported his grandchildren in their educational pursuits, encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Survivors include his wife, Colette; sons, Peter “Chipper” (Marieta) Johnson and Joel (Karen) Johnson; daughter, Jennifer (Michael) Lundin; seven grandchildren, Megan (Troy) Douglas, Benjamin (Jenna) Johnson, Nicholas (Masha) Johnson, Jessica (Ryan) Naimola, Jon (Rachael) Lundin, David (Lizzy) Lundin and Brandon (Alexandria) Johnson. He was a proud great-grandfather to 17, between the ages of 11 months and 14 years. Peter is also survived by his brother, Stanton (Pam) Johnson; sisters, Sharon (Jack) Giese and Charlotte (John) Purvis; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter “Pete” and Frances O’Korn Johnson; and in-laws, Clarence “Bud” and Lillian Swedman Kishel.

Jacqueline J. Weum
Jacqueline Joyce “Jackie” Weum, 86, longtime resident of Cook, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Marywood in Duluth, A full obituary will follow. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.