Obituaries: September 8, 2023

Paul H. Mesojedec
Paul Herman Mesojedec, 80, of Soudan, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at ViewCrest Care Center in Duluth. In keeping with Paul’s wishes, there will be no service.
Paul was born on March 6, 1943, to Herman Frank and Agnes Marie (Chiabotti) Mesojedec. After graduating from high school, Paul married his childhood sweetheart, Darlene Rae Berg, on Sept. 2, 1967, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. In 1969, the couple welcomed their only child, Chad, to the world.
Paul and Darlene enjoyed spending time at the Ely Moose Club playing cards, and gambling in Las Vegas, Laughlin, and numerous casinos in Minnesota including Fortune Bay. They enjoyed trips to Jamaica and the Bahamas. Paul liked spending time at the island, the shack in the woods, walking, fishing, and swimming. He also enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in Soudan, playing hockey and football.
Paul is survived by his wife, Darlene; son, Chad (Jennifer); grandchildren, Maren and John Paul; and brother, Mitchell (Ginger).
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Agnes Mesojedec; and grandmother, Helen Chiabotti.

Thomas M. Reed
Thomas Michael “Tim” Reed, 68, of Crane Lake, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Virginia. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Crane Lake Chapel and again in June 2024. He will be buried as he wished, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Duluth.
He is survived by his sister, Nancy Reed Nichols-Goldstein; former wife, Melanie Reed; and many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

William Hill
William “Lum” Hill, 86, of Virginia, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Benedictine Health Center in Duluth. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet Jamnick Hill; daughters, Sherri (Jeff) Munson and Bonnie (Dean) Kuitunen; son, Michael (Shannon) Hill; son-in-law, Troy Barteck; many grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and beloved cat, Princess.

William M. Sobyra Jr.
William M. “Bill” Sobyra Jr., 83, of Cook, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Bill was born in Chicago, Ill., on April, 15, 1940, to William Sr. and Stella (Bernal) Sobyra. Bill grew up and attended school in Chicago, graduating from Elgin High School in 1958. His first big job was with a federal life insurance company where he worked in printing. He would come up to Minnesota for summer vacations and that is where he met the love of his life in 1963. Bill and Karen went fishing and got stuck on the boat together. Knowing that Bill couldn’t swim, Karen would rock the boat. They wrote letters back and forth which led to Bill proposing that Christmas. They were united in marriage on Jan. 2, 1965.
After they married, Bill and Karen lived in Glendale Heights, Ill., and he became the manager for Practical Offset Printing Company. In 1974, they moved to Cook with their three children. He had worked for a construction company and was proud to help build the Hibbing Hospital where all of his grandchildren were born. He also helped build the Cook Homestead and later Potlatch, where he was hired and later retired as a press operator.
Bill was an avid bowler, golfer and sports enthusiast. If there was a game on, he was always watching, especially when it came to the White Sox, Cubs and Twins. His grandkids grew up with sarcastic threats. If you asked him for anything, he would jokingly say, “It will cost you $2.” He was proud of all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, going to all their games, school events, and extracurricular activities. He was loved and will be greatly missed. 
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Karen Sobyra; son, William (Sherri) Sobyra; daughter, Julie (Peter) Schelde; grandchildren, Alicia Witte, Astion (Cierra Morris) Schelde, William (Caleesha) Sobyra IV, Courtney (Zack) Zeig, Mikaela Schelde, Bridget Schelde and Cheyenne Schelde; great-grandchildren, Oliver Schelde, Rhett Zeig, Parker Klimek and one on the way; sister, Dolores Sobyra; bonus son, Torben (Susanne) Bruun; bonus grandchildren, Anne Kathrine and Frederick; and numerous nieces, nephews and other beloved family members.
He was preceded in death by his son, Master Sergeant Frank M. Sobyra; parents, William Sr. and Stella Sobyra; and brothers, Stanley Sobyra and Raymond Sobyra.

James D. Keranen
James Donald Keranen, 94, of Grand Rapids, passed away surrounded by family in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at Majestic Pines Senior Living in Grand Rapids. A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Pastor Ben B. Buchanan will officiate. Full military honors will be rendered immediately following the service. Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids.

Glenn W. Myers
Glenn W. Myers, 86, of Babbitt, passed away on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, at Vermilion Senior Living in Tower. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landmark Funeral Home of Virginia.