Obituaries: June 27, 2025

Marsha D. Banovetz
Marsha D. Banovetz, 85, of Ely, passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025, at M Hospital Fairview Southdale in Edina. Celebrations of life will occur in both St. Paul and Ely. A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, Aug. 1 at Mueller Memorial in St. Paul with visitation one hour prior. A reception will follow. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely. Lunch will be served at the church immediately following the service. Interment will be at the Ely Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association. Final arrangements have been entrusted to Mueller Memorial Funeral Home of St. Paul.
Marsha was born in Ely on Sept. 28, 1939, to Frank and Martha Milkovich Banovetz. She was a proud graduate of Ely High School in the class of 1957 and attended the University of Minnesota before moving to the San Francisco Bay area to begin her career in the cargo department of United Airlines. She returned to Minnesota during the late 1990s to care for her aging mother, remaining in the St. Paul area before returning to Ely several years ago.
Marsha is survived by brother, Franklin (Linda) Banovetz; nieces and nephews, Martha Glum, Michael (Angela) Glum, Jennifer (Paul) Banovetz-Bastian, and David (Kelly) Banovetz; great-niece and great-nephew, Leigha Glum and Zachary Glum; and many cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Martha; and sister, Lorretta.

Roland Fowler
Roland “Charlie” Fowler, 92, of Embarrass, died on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Services and a complete obituary will be published when available. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home of Virginia.

Harry Lamppa
Harry Lamppa, 90, originally of Embarrass, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Virginia. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 29 at Expectancy Church in Mt. Iron. All who knew and loved Harry are welcome. If you plan to attend, kindly RSVP at https://everloved.com/life-of/harry-lamppa/.

Dolores M. Sobyra
Dolores Mary Sobyra, 88, of Cook, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cook. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.

Thomas A. Pawlikowski
Thomas Allen Pawlikowski, 78, of Lake Vermilion -Tower, died on Monday June 16, 2025, in Essentia-St. Mary’s Medical Center. The family would like to express their eternal gratitude to Essentia Health for his care. At the time of his passing, Tom was living at Diamond Willow. Thanks goes to them for his wonderful care. A private, family celebration of life will be held at a later date. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sharon Nelson Pawlikowski; sons, Alan of Mt. Iron and Neal (Trisha) of Virginia; grandsons, Neal Jr. and Max; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Julie (Doug) Toms, Mary Jo (Mike) PalmowskI, and Betty Kay Pawlikowski; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Doyle E. Nelson
Doyle Elwood Nelson, 95, of Ely, passed away at Heritage Manor in Chisholm on Sunday, June 15, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family celebrating Father’s Day. Doyle will be laid to rest with Doris at Saginaw Veterans Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at the Grand Ely Lodge on Sunday, June 29 from 1-4 p.m. with a small service at 1:30 p.m. and a meal and social time to celebrate Doyle and all he blessed us with in his many years of life.
He is survived by his four children, Loren (Pauline), Mark (Gwen), Marie (Tim Sladek), and Chris; grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; special sister, Lorraine (Rusty Seelen); special sister-in-law, Helga; and many nieces and nephews.

Blaine Diesslin
Blaine “Butch” Diesslin, 82, passed away at Babbitt Carefree Living on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, surrounded by his wife and loving family. Funeral services were held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely on Thursday, June 26. Family arrangements were entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Mary A. Henderson
Mary Ann Simonich Henderson, 90, of Lake Vermillion-Tower, died peacefully in her sleep in Eden Prairie on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. 
A Mass and celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower.