Obituaries - Sept. 21, 2018

Viola E. Lamppa

Viola Eleanor Lamppa, 99, of Embarrass, died on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, at Essentia Health in Virginia. A private family memorial service will be held. Viola’s natural sense of caring and her loving, generous ways touched the hearts of many. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Viola was born on Jan. 30, 1919, to Matt and Wilhelmina (Koyola) Paavola on Section 30. When she was two years old her family moved to rural Babbitt where she grew up. She attended rural school but continued her education in Duluth, graduating from Central High School in the class of 1937. Viola married Leonard Lamppa on April 18, 1938. They were lifelong residents of Embarrass, with the exception of a couple of years residing in Hawthorne, Nev. They had three daughters, Arlene, Judy and Diane.

Viola was appointed the career clerk of the Embarrass Post Office, while her husband was the Postmaster. They both retired in 1973 and spent many enjoyable years traveling. During her early years she was active in the Fireman’s Auxiliary, the PTA, and was a member of the Aurora Moose Club. Viola’s greatest joy was supporting her daughters in whatever activity they participated in. She loved politics and kept up with the latest news until the end. Above all, Viola took the greatest pleasure in her family. In 2001, Viola moved to the Laurentian Apartments where she lived independently until 2017, when she moved to an assisted living facility in Tower.

Viola is survived by her daughters, Arlene Johnson of St. Paul, Judy (Bob) Syrjanen of Soudan and Diane (Leroy) Lempia of rural Tower; grandchildren, Bradley (Jodene) Syrjanen of Esko, Wendy (Jim) Tuominen of Soudan, Sherri (Brian) Johnson of Proctor, Dana (Alysha) Johnson of Oakdale, Sonja (Mark) Schular of Panama City, Fla., Kirk Johnson of St. Paul, Tanya Maquire of Oakdale, David (Lauri) Lempia of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Daryl (Jodie) Lempia of North Branch and Renee (Steve) Zupancich of rural Tower; fifteen great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; and a very special niece, Vivian Haugen of Phoenix, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; sisters: Mary and Vienna; brothers: Lauri, Ed, Robert, Ralph and Matt; great-grandson, Corey Tuominen; and her parents, Matt and Wilhelmina Paavola.

Arlene I. Smith

Arlene I. Smith, 87, of Rockford, Ill., and Orr, left this world on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, to be reunited with her loving husband Elmer in Heaven. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate her life will be held after the regular Sunday church services in the lower level of Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23.

Arlene was born to Ernest and Bernice Cave on Sept. 14, 1930, and grew up in the same neighborhood as Elmer. They met while tobogganing, became childhood sweethearts, and were married on June 7, 1947. They had just celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary when Elmer was called home to be with Jesus in 2009. They have five children, Valerie (Jim) Schumacher of Roscoe, Ill., Vaughn (Michele) Smith of Elk River, Varlene (Dennie) Milne of Machesney Park, Ill., Vanessa (Ray) Ingebretsen of Crane Lake and Vanetta Rennock of Brooklyn Center.

In Rockford, she was a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, enjoyed playing cards or games of any sort, and believed that just because you were a little kid it didn’t mean that you could automatically win. She enjoyed archery, was on a bowling league at Wesmor Bowling Alley for many years, loved to host Halloween parties for the neighborhood kids, and usually was dressed as the bride of Frankenstein with Frankenstein (Elmer) by her side. She was employed at Blue Cross, Globe Imperial and lastly at Amerock.

In 1976, Arlene and Elmer bought Wagon Wheel Resort in Orr, which they later renamed Aspen Lodge. They experienced so many one-of-a-kind adventures while they were there that she wrote a book entitled “Dream To Reality”. She was a member of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America, the Pine Town Players and the Pelican Lake Resort Association, which she also served as president. She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church and was involved with the youth group and religious release time. She liked to do needlepoint and especially liked to crochet. Her famous crocheted “beer can hats” were always for sale in the lodge and she once crocheted a two-piece bathing suit and wore it many times. She liked watching Nascar races and was a lifelong White Sox and Green Bay Packer fan.

She is survived by her five children, 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Arlene was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; sisters, Lucille Weddle and Shirley Rowland; brother, Ralan Cave; and grandson, Spencer Weed.

Gretchen Lobe

Gretchen Webber Lobe, 102, of Ely, died on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, at Carefree Living in Babbitt. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Ely. A gathering time for family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. Inurnment will take place in the Ely Cemetery.

Memorials are the preferred way to honor Gretchen’s life, and may be directed to the John and Gretchen Lobe Helping Hands Fund at the Vermilion Community College Foundation. Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.

She is survived by her children, Joneene Lobe of Ely, Vincent (Paula) Lobe of Pittsford, N.Y., Larry Lobe of Roseville and John P. (Michelle) Lobe of Woodburn, Ind.; grandchildren, Michael (Josie) Lobe, Sarah Lobe, Charlie (Lynn) Lobe, Katie (Mark) Farr, Siiri (Aaron Bubb) Lobe and Ian (Sarah) Lobe; great-grandchildren, Max, Evan, Hunter and Arlo; extended family and friends, including special friend, Nancy Bement.

Sylvia E. Lehrke

Sylvia Ester Arvola Jauhola Lehrke, 87, of Virginia, passed away on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, at her residence. Funeral services were held on Friday, Sept. 14 at Range Funeral Home with Pastor Joel Hasz officiating. Burial was at Florenton Cemetery. Arrangements were with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

She is survived by her children, Bonnie DuFresne of Makinen, Peter Jauhola of Tower, Jeffrey Jauhola of Cook, Susan (Mike) Pollack of Jacksonville, Fla., Greg Jauhola of Cook and Russ (Karla) Jauhola of Wuori Township; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Francis L. Lamppa

Francis “Pete” Leroy Lamppa, 84, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Carefree Living in Virginia. A memorial gathering will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at Range Funeral Home in Virginia. Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

He is survived by his friend, Mary Prijatel of Ely; sons, Reid (Terry) of Waskish and Kerry (Holly) of Albuquerque, N.M.; daughters, Stacey Lamppa of St. Louis, Mo., Stefanie (Dan) Olson of Duluth and Darcie (Robert) Clark of Charleston, S.C.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brothers, Herbert Lamppa of Tower, Roger (Joan) Lamppa of Virginia and Fred (Karen) Lamppa of Britt.