Obituaries: June 14, 2024

Theresa M. Berg
Theresa Marie Berg, 94, of Rockford, Ill., passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at home surrounded by family. The family would like to give a special thank you to OSF Hospice staff, especially Dr. Whelan and Amy, and her caregivers, Lisa, Mikaya, Andrea, Teresa, Mary and Kim. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 5 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower, hosted by Dan Berg and Nancy Berg. Burial of cremated remains will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. A second Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 21 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower, hosted by Michele “Mica” Berg. Please direct memorial donations to the Tower 4th of July or Lakeview Cemetery funds.  
Arrangements are with Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematorium of Rockford, Ill.
Theresa was born in Soudan on May 9, 1930, the daughter of Jacob and Angela Zobitz Pavlich. She married Russell Berg on July 10, 1951, and they spent 72 wonderful years together. Theresa was the first in her family to earn a college degree, and obtained her master’s degree in education from Rockford College. She worked as a third-grade teacher at Marquette Elementary and in the Harlem School District. She had a deep faith for God and was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower and Holy Family Catholic Church in Rockford, Ill. She also taught catechism classes and Bible school.
Theresa enjoyed playing cards and crosswords, making ceramics, and tending to her gardens. She was a fantastic cook and seamstress. She was famous for her elaborate Mongolian barbeques, which she learned in Okinawa when her husband was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. In the 50’s, when she and Russell were in Texas, Theresa learned how to make pinatas from scratch and decorated them with tissue origami roses she had learned to make in Okinawa. She made the pinatas for family birthdays and weddings. Among her travels, Theresa’s dream of visiting Europe was fulfilled in 1996. She did a tour of Italy and visited family in Slovenia, where she was able to see where her father was born and raised.  
Theresa was the center of connection for her family of ten sisters and one brother, including many nieces and nephews and their children, as well as her husband’s large family and many friends, writing letters and sending cards for special occasions. Theresa was a generous, compassionate, positive and graceful mom, grandma, great-grandma, sister, friend and teacher.
Theresa is survived by her children, Michele Berg Cascarano and Daniel (Catherine) Berg; daughter-in-law, Nancy Berg; grandchildren, Ben (Rachel) Berg, Samantha (Bryan) Bew, Danny Berg and Abby Berg; great-grandchildren, Anna, Cameron and Leia; sister, Aggie (Tony) Yapel; sister-in-law, Darlene Mesojedec; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her husband, Russell Berg; and son, Mitch Berg.

Adrienne F. Dubbin
Adrienne Frances Huneke Dubbin, 87, of Fall Lake, passed away at her home surrounded by family on Friday, June 7, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 14 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely with visitation one hour prior. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
She is survived by her daughter, Debbie (Bill) Erzar; sons, Jeff and Ron (Lori) Dubbin; grandson, Chris Erzar; great-grandchild, Moss Erzar-Tyndall; sister, Sandy Lewandowski; sister-in-law, Josie Huneke; brother-in-law, Percy Dubbin; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Joe, Mary, James and Julia Schwinghamer, all of whom she loved.

Diablo V. Strong
Diablo Victor Strong, 49, of Duluth, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 14 at the Bois Forte Government and Services Center. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the Center. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Gertrude M. Mosnik
Gertrude M. Vertnik Mosnik, 90, of Ely, passed away on Nov. 27, 2023.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2024, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at the Ely Cemetery following Mass, followed by lunch at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Please come to help celebrate Gert’s life and share in the memories.

Frank S. Lekatz
Frank S. Lekatz, 77, formerly of Ely, a proud U.S. Army veteran, passed away at Carefree Living in Babbitt on Saturday, June 8, 2024. At Franks’s request, there will be no funeral service. His wish was that he and his wife, Jan, would be buried at Fort Snelling. His family thanks the staff at Carefree Living for the wonderful care and support given to Frank and thanks the staff at Essentia Health, especially Dr. Joseph Schwinghamer, for the compassionate care given to Frank over the years. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
He is survived by his brother, John (Mary Ann) Lekatz of Ely and their children; sister, Louise (Andy) Kainz of Ely; sisters-in-law, Wendy (Russ) Meyer of Bagley and their children and Diane Trerio of Pengilly and her children; and many cousins and friends.