Obituaries: December 23, 2022

Ronald R. Hujanen
Ronald R. Hujanen, 80, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower. Honorary pallbearers are Phillip Birk, Jeromy Fonkert, Ray Niskanen, Jason Niskanen and Kurt Hujanen. Arrangements are by Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Ron was born on Nov. 25, 1942, in Soudan. He was married to Delores Niskanen in Menominee, Mich., on Aug. 14, 1965. Ron taught grade school there for two years, then moved to Ely where he taught until he retired. They moved to Lake Vermilion in 1992 and to Cook in 2017.
Ron enjoyed life, and together with his family enjoyed all seasons of activities in God’s great outdoors. Ron also enjoyed kicking tires. The family wishes to thank the Cook Care Center for the wonderful care and compassion given to Ron. Thanks be to God.
Ron is survived by his wife, Delores; son, Les (Brenda Edmundson); sister, Kathie (Brian) Birk; grandson, Austin (Caley) Hujanen and a great-grandchild due in the spring; granddaughters, Alyssa Hujanen (Dustin Olson), Brielle Hujanen (Kaden Ratai) and Mia Mattifield (Jack Tanner); sisters-in-law, Edith (Jim) Vetort, Viola Youngquist, Lydia Coble, Judy Franklin and Ellen Nowack; brothers-in-law, Norman Niskanen, Raymond (Joy) Niskanen and William (Sherry) Niskanen; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Jr.; parents, Helen and Reino Hujanen; in-laws, Helen and Wilho Niskanen; brothers-in-law, Donald, Russell and John; and sister-in-law, Elaine.

Esther E. McKenzie
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Esther Ellen “Bubs/Bubba” McKenzie at the age of 92 on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The family is especially grateful to Alesha Johnson for the loving and professional care she gave to our Mom in her final years. Her positive attitude made everything easier.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, Dec. 16 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Hoyt Lakes with Fr. Kristoffer McKusky celebrating.  Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing. Arrangements were by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.
Born into the close-knit Griffiths family from Hibbing and Little Swan, she was a woman full of class and sass from the very beginning. Just as her mother raised her to do, Bubs pursued education for much of her life. She graduated from Hibbing High School in 1948 and the College of St. Scholastica in 1953. She later returned to St. Scholastica and earned a graduate certificate in Gerontology. She retired from the Minnesota Senior Federation in 2008. For many years, she was involved in ministry at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Hoyt Lakes. Our mother dedicated her life to helping others.
Bubs loved life and a good hardware store. She thought of herself as an amateur electrician, although the occasional spark and smoke would indicate otherwise. Even into her 90s, she had an adventurous spirit and “Fear Of Missing Out”, never wanting to miss a party or gathering. She also never met a side road she did not want to explore. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strong faith, sense of humor, and spunk. Family was everything to her and she was everything to us. She loved the Wolf Lake cabin, sitting on the dock or sitting by the fire, enjoying her morning coffee, and a gin and tonic or glass of wine in the evening. 
She is survived by her children, Mary (Robert) Edwards, James (Karla) Patrick, Shawn (Sandra), Timothy, Bridget (David) Goette, Bryan (Molly), Megan (Grant) Stevenson and Cathlin (Ken) Larsen; grandchildren, Ashley, Jessica (Nick), Grant, Matthew, Alex, Ian, Anders, Erin, Eleanore and Grace; great-grandchildren, Kira and Miriam; sister-in-law, Dorothy Griffiths; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ed Maloney, killed tragically in 1951; husband, James McKenzie in 2017; granddaughter, Emma; and nine siblings, Roy, Mary Margaret, Patricia, John, Ed, Eleanore, Julia, Bryan and (Deacon) Jim. 

Dorothy J. Harri
Dorothy Jane Skeryanc Harri, 89, of Ely, passed away at Boundary Waters Care Center on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She is survived by her nephew, Al Kovall; nieces, Deb (Prijatel) Edwards and Jeanne (Kovall) Hanninen, both of Ely; and many more nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews in Ely, Babbitt, Alaska, Minnesota and California.

Donna M. Meacham
Donna Mable Rogers Meacham, 81, of Aurora, died on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. Funeral services were held on Thursday, Dec. 22 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo with Pastors Steve Banks and Jeanne Madsen officiating. Interment was in the Rauha Cemetery in Palo. Arrangements were by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.
She is survived by her children, Larry (Maxine) Meacham of East Bethel, Gordon (Kris) Meacham of Embarrass and Lynn (Rick) Jones of Aurora; grandchildren, Kristen Mullens, Julie (Tyler) Koski, Joshua (Jessica) Jones, Alyssa (Chris) Sumner, Amber (Nate) Holmstrom, Renee (Matt) Lane, Melissa (Jon) Semmelroth and Marcell (McKayla) Meacham; nine great-grandchildren and three on-the-way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Phillip A. Haburn
Phillip Arnold Haburn, 76, of Babbitt, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at New-Life Church in Alexandria, followed by a burial service at Lakeside Cemetery in Osakis. A celebration of life will be held in Babbitt at a later date. Arrangements are with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his children, Carol Ann (Brierley) Haburn, Sean Phillip Haburn and Shannon Marie (Brian) Shin; grandchildren, Rachel AnnMarie Simmons, Gabby Rose Gonzalez, Isabel Rose Gonzalez, Alyx Sean Haburn, Jordan Haburn, Bryson Shin and Preston Shin; and three great-grandchildren.

Jon Malek
Jon Malek, 61, of Tower, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 at Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely with visitation at 11 a.m. Following the service there will be a gathering from 1-4 p.m. at Grand Ely Lodge.
Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa Levar Malek; father, James (Faith) Malek Sr.; half-sister, Roseanne Malek; brother, James (Stacey Moen) Malek Jr. and nephew, Jacob (Leah) Malek and niece, Courtney Malek; brother, Josef (Sue) Malek and nephew, Michael Malek; brother, Karel (Jade) Malek and nephew, Chase Malek and niece, Chelsea Malek.

Ross Houle
Ross E. Houle, 67, of Ely, passed away on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at his home. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa; daughter, Lindsey (Joe); son, Jeremy; brother, Glenn (Janet); sister, Janis (Judy); three grandchildren; and special friend, Rosemary Vesel.

Charlotte Gallagher
Charlotte “Dottie” Gallagher, 80, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Services are pending with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Susan McGrath
Susan McGrath, 68, of Ely, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.