Obituaries: October 4, 2024

Lois C. Larson
Lois Constance Larson, 88, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Lois was born in Cook, on July 2, 1936, to Arthur and Matilda Erickson Refsdal. Lois grew up in Cook with her sister Zoe and brothers John and Wally, where she attended school, graduating in 1954. After high school, Lois attended Virginia Junior College, now Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, where she obtained a business degree. Her first business occupation was as a bookkeeper for WHLB Radio Station, where she had a great time rooming and socializing with other young women. During this time, she met and married her husband, Alan Larson; they were happily married for 46 years until his passing in 2006. Lois was the librarian at the Cook Library for 32 years. So many people got to know her as she served the community. She was a longtime member of the Covenant Church in Cook.
Lois was a talented artist who painted. She was so proficient at painting, even as a child. In elementary school, she was the go-to person if someone needed a poster or illustration. She taught weekly classes for the Cook School Community Education program and for the North Woods Friends of the Arts gallery. Her passion was watercolor, which she shared while teaching a six-week class in 2017. Lois spent a lifetime sharing her talents and enjoying quiet time on her deck where she painted many lovely and mystical paintings.
Lois also enjoyed meeting up with friends and her women’s groups and having coffee and lunch. She played volleyball for the Sturgeon Garage Volleyball team. When that ended, the women still gathered to visit, and still meet to this day. Lois also enjoyed thrift shopping, antiquing, and going to the casino.
Lois is survived by her daughter, Kirsten “Kit” Sayeh; son, Scott (Anne); brother, Wally Refsdal (Marilu); grandchildren, Nathan Larson (Jade), Kodi Larson and Tily Sayeh (Sean Naujhton); great-grandchild, Slade Larson; sister-in-law, Jody Refsdal; brother-in-law, Bill King; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband, Alan Larson; sister, Zoe King; brother, John Refsdal; nephews, Brad King and Tim King; and beloved dog, Rags.

Mary E. Schaak
Mary Elizabeth Schaak, 85, of Tower, formerly of Bloomington, passed away peacefully with her husband Bernie at her side on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. A celebration of life took place on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Jones-Harrison residence in Minneapolis. Family services were provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower.
Mary was born on Dec. 17, 1938, to Dr. Severin H. Koop and Helen Sehl Koop and grew up in Richmond, Minn. On July 15, 1961, she married Bernard “Bernie” Schaak in Richmond. Mary and Bernie lived in St. Louis Park before moving to Bloomington where they raised their family, and eventually retired to their lake home on Lake Vermilion in Tower.
Mary loved her family with all her heart; her grandchildren were especially the light of her life. She especially enjoyed family time at the lake and the holidays with all the chaos that it brought. She was so excited to be a great-grandmother but unfortunately missed the birth of her first great-grandchild by two days.
Mary is survived by her husband, Bernie of Tower; children, Anne Schaak of Bloomington, Lisa Plessel (Dan) of Coon Rapids and Christopher Schaak (Gretchen) of New Hope; seven grandchildren, Matthew Plessel, Alexandra Olson (Brodie), Nicholas Plessel, Timothy Plessel, Samantha Plessel, Liam Schaak and Dillon Schaak; great-granddaughter, Delaney Olson; and sister, Peg Wacloff of Sun Lakes, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael; parents; sister, Helen “Trixie”; and brothers, Severin, Nicholas and John.

William J. Sersha
William John “Bill” Sersha, 97, of Cook, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. The family would like to thank Edgewood Vista and Waterview Pines for their compassionate care. A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Lunch will follow at the Cook VFW. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
Bill was born on Nov. 22, 1926, in Eveleth, to John and Mary Dolenc Sersha. He attended school in Eveleth. Bill was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and served in the occupation of Japan. He was a proud member of the American Legion Post 480 of Orr for 50 years. Bill worked for Pittsburgh-Pacifica Mining Company for 34 years as a driller and blaster.
On Sept. 15, 1951, Bill married Beryl Johansen of Alango; they moved to Cook in March of 1954. Bill and Beryl spent time in their retirement years going on fishing trips with family and friends. They spent many winters in Mission, Texas.
Bill enjoyed playing horseshoes, working in his woodshop, listening to polka music, and visiting with family and friends.
Bill is survived by his son, Roger (Juanita) Sersha of Angora; granddaughter, Rochelle Bristol of Hibbing; grandson, Rodney (Melanie) Anderson of Iron; five great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Roger (Jean) Johansen of Virginia; and many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary; five brothers, John, Joe, Peter, Robert and Pat; wife, Beryl; and son, Dan (Jean) Sersha.

Margaret H. Pogorels
Margaret “Margie” Helen Turnsk Mlaker Pogorels, 94, of Spudville/Hibbing, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Heritage Manor in Chisholm. Margie’s family would like to thank the staff at Heritage Manor for all the outstanding care and companionship they gave her the last five years. Thanks also to Fairview Range Hospice for their compassionate and tender care. Family graveside services were held at the family plot in the Chisholm Cemetery. Arrangements were with Mlaker Funeral Home of Cook.
She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Matt) Baratto of Hibbing; sons, Frank (Sharon) Mlaker of Hibbing, Warren (Betty) Mlaker of Cook, Tony (Cynthia) Pogorels and Terry (Carol) Pogorels, both of Hibbing; brother, Henry Turnsk of Vacaville, Calif; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Barbara Kollar
Barbara Bliss Kollar, 102 and a half, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Barbara was born on Feb. 16, 1922. She was born and raised in Springfield, Mass., a community her ancestors founded in 1636. She was a graduate of Russell Sage College and received her master’s degree from Springfield College. Her career years were spent as a physical education instructor and then as Supervisor for Health, Safety and Physical Education in the public schools of Springfield. She was even a coach for boys basketball and baseball during World War II. Barb was a very active and athletic person who enjoyed ski teaching, tennis and other outdoor activities. After retiring to Florida where she met her second husband, Roland Kollar, she joined a tennis club and helped her teammates win a state title in their age group.
She moved to Ely in 2017 to be near her daughter. Barb enjoyed attending Tuesday Group and playing bridge with her newfound friends. Her guides for fishing and dogsledding claimed her as their oldest client ever. She was also grateful for her many friends who visited and read to her as she lost her sight. 
Barbara is survived by her only child, Cynthia Miller and son-in-law, Denis Miller, both of Ely; two grandsons, Cameron Miller (Claire) and Toller Miller (Kimberly); six great-grandchildren, Joseph, Chloe, Lucy, Thomas, Lily and Whitten; and niece, Carol Bliss.

Raymond L. Marsnik
Raymond L. Marsnik, 83, of Ely, passed away at his residence on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Family arrangements are being provided by Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.