Obituaries: April 21, 2023

Karen A. Brandt
Karen Ann Pulver Brandt, 83, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at her home in Tower, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 22 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Martin’s Catholic Church for flowers to decorate the church. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.
Karen was born on Dec. 4, 1939, to Samuel and Ann (Hartze) Pulver of Zap, N.D. After high school, Karen worked in Bismarck, where she met Jack Brandt, who was stationed in Bismarck with the U.S. Air Force. After his discharge from the service, Jack and Karen moved to Minnesota, settling in Kugler Township.
Karen loved gardening and anything involving plants and flowers. She had the ultimate “green thumb” as witnessed by the many years of successfully operating Brandt’s Greenhouse, and creating beautiful floral arrangements and Christmas wreaths. Even in her 80’s she could still be seen roaming through the greenhouse while her son James resumed operation of it. She loved visiting with all her regulars and old friends in the greenhouse and making new friends. She also loved providing flowers and decorations for St. Martin’s Catholic Church during the holidays.
Karen is survived by her best friend and husband of 62 years, Jack Brandt; children, Julie (Brandt) Harrison, Mark Brandt, James Brandt and Brian Brandt; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, LaRue Mai, Lois Rossum and Elizabeth Trieb; and brother, Michael Pulver.
She was preceded in death by her parents.

Larry Lobe
Larry Lobe, 73, originally of Ely, died on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, at his home in Roseville. Services will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 7 at VFW Post 7555 in Roseville. Additional services will be held on Saturday, July 15, with a private family service at the Ely Cemetery in the morning followed by a celebration of life from 3-6 p.m. (eulogy at 4 p.m.) at Lobes’ on Burntside Lake, 3083 Kaleva Bay Rd. All are welcome to share a Larry story or two. Memorial donations for Larry Lobe can be directed to the VFW Auxiliary, VFW Post 7555, 1145 Woodhill Dr., Roseville, MN 55113.
He is survived by his significant other, Sue Terry; children, Charlie “Chuck” Lobe of Minneapolis and Katie Lobe Farr of Shawnee, Kansas; siblings, Joneene Lobe of Ely, Vincent (Paula) Lobe of Pittsford, N.Y., and John P. (Michelle) Lobe of Woodburn, Ind.; and grandchildren, Maxwell Hernandez, Evan Lobe and Hunter Lobe.

Judy E. Paavola
Judy Elizabeth Paavola, 65, originally of Ely, passed away at her home in Jacksonville, Fla., surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, April 13, 2023. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 22 at Wesconnett Assembly of God in Jacksonville.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Scott McAndrew of Jacksonville; children, Lisa Michelle Cintron (Steven) and Johnathan Eugene James (Petra); five grandchildren; sisters, Cathy Coombe (Brian) of Ely and Jane Vukelich (David) of Babbitt; and several nieces and nephews. 

Daniel J. Zubich III
Daniel “Dan” J. Zubich III, 80, of Onalaska, Wis., former teacher, coach, and longtime resident of Babbitt, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Plans are underway for a future celebration of life, tentatively scheduled to take place in Northern Minnesota. Arrangements are with Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Tranby Zubich of Onalaska; son, Danny (Becky) of Virginia; daughter, Taryn of Onalaska; grandchildren, Jalen, Asher, Jordan, Tebow and Zoey; and “bestie”, Ron Marinaro.

Robert A. Lindholm
Robert “Bob” Adolph Lindholm, 95, of Ely, a proud veteran, passed away at Ely Carefree Living on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. A funeral service was held at Ely United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 15. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ely United Methodist Church.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.
He is survived by his wife, LaVerne Anderson Lindholm; children, Bob (Jeanne) Lindholm, Larry (DeeAnn) Lindholm, Julie (Marty) Ericson and Joan (Dan) Dagger; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters and brother-in-law, Lois (Ed) Johnson and Ruth Erickson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Art (Dolly) Anderson, Pat (Chuck) Blair and Norman Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.

Devin M. Villebrun Sr.
Devin Mitchell Villebrun Sr., 30, of the Bear Clan and of Cass Lake, unexpectedly journeyed to the spirit world on Sunday, April 9, 2023, at IHS in Cass Lake. A two-night wake for Devin began on Thursday, April 13 and continued until the service on Saturday, April 15 at the Mission Community Center in Mission. Father Bill Butcher and Lenny Fineday officiated. Interment was in Prince of Peace Cemetery in Cass Lake. Arrangements were entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.
He is survived by his mom, Patricia Wilson; dad, Donald (Tina) Villebrun Sr.; sons, Aiden Boblink and Devin Villebrun Jr.; daughters, Annaleigh Villebrun and Alani Villebrun; grandmother, Linda Wilson; grandparents, Elaine and Frank Villebrun Sr.; brothers, Donovan (Jen) Villebrun, Matthew (Leann) Villebrun, Nathan Villebrun, Freaman Rock II, Gabriel Rock, Donald Villebrun Jr., Marshall (Matiya) Villebrun, Alex Kingbird, Devin Kingbird and Aiden Kingbird; sisters, Linzie Villebrun, Donelle Villebrun, Alexis Villebrun, Tiandra (Jimmy) Geyshick, Tehya (Saul) Geyshick, Kylie (Chad) Lindgren and Jamie (Jordan) Baird; uncles, Timmy Jordan, James (Ashley) Brown Sr., Joel Ortley, Frank Villebrun Jr. and Joe (Connie) Wilson Sr.; aunts, Eva (Bryan) Wilson, Sharon (Terry) Johnson, Melissa (Tim) Wilson, Lynette (Zac) Villebrun, Leighann Villebrun, Rhonda Burcher, Michelle Gutierrez and Lori Littlewolf; goddaughter, Casidee Pacheco; nieces, Lilith, Ella, Kyloni and Kal’ leigh; nephew, Landon; special friend, Jerrica Hardy-Morris; numerous other relatives and many friends.

Tammy A. Nori
Tammy A. Nori, 53, of Babbitt, passed away on Monday, April 17, 2023, in Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. Arrangements are pending with Range Funeral Home in Virginia.

Eugene Lester Coyer
Eugene Lester Coyer, age 95, born on August 12, 1927 in Albert Lea, passed away peacefully during the night in his “Palace in the Poplar” on April 16, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 11a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023, at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr. Pastor Wendy Deatherage will officiate.
There will be an evening visitation held on Sunday, April 30, 2023 from 5 to 7PM at the Dougherty Funeral Home in Hibbing, MN. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Monday beginning at 10AM at Calvary Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Calvary Lutheran Church in Orr. Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing. A full obituary will follow in next week’s paper.