Obituaries: September 2, 2022

Keith Vandervort
Keith Vandervort, 60, of Ely, passed away at home of natural causes on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 at First Presbyterian Church in Ely. A meal and remembrance will follow at Grand Ely Lodge from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. the same day. Arrangements are with Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.
Keith was born in Fond du Lac, Wis. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in journalism and political science. 
Keith started his career in journalism at the Chilton Times-Journal in Wisconsin where he met his wife, Kay. He worked at two newspapers in Fond du Lac and then took a job as a staff photographer at The Record-Eagle in Traverse City, Mich. Following that position, he returned to Fond du Lac as the chief photographer at The Reporter, then moved to a position as copy editor/page designer for The Reporter and later was the regional copy desk editor for Gannett Wisconsin Media. Keith’s final position was as the Ely Editor for The Timberjay. 
He won state newspaper association awards in Wisconsin, Michigan, and most recently, a first-place in Local Breaking News from the Minnesota Newspaper Association for his coverage of the storm that halted the Ely Blueberry/Art Festival in 2021.
Keith loved the news, politics, puns, lame duck jokes, photography, the Green Bay Packers, his family and friends and Kay. He was an amateur ham radio operator and enjoyed putting together World War II airplane models and Legos. He read voraciously, liked Wednesday date night and one-day adventures to find a pretty rock, the best breadsticks, or something big such as the giant mouse in Fennimore, Wis., the cherry pie in Charlevoix, Mich., or the Smokey the Bear in International Falls.  
He took numerous trips with family into the Boundary Waters, starting when he was in middle school. He enjoyed camping. He liked meeting new people and made friends wherever he went.
Keith is survived by his wife, Kay (Haden) Vandervort; siblings, Kathleen (Gerald) Farrell, Kevin Vandervort and Kraig (Tina) Vandervort; stepson, Jeffrey (Lisa) Peters; step-grandson, Jack Peters; sisters and brother-in-law, Nancy Haden (Bill) Meyer and Rose Haden; aunts and uncle, Shirley Kissinger and Larry and Diane Eggers; nieces and nephews, Laurie (Jack) Elliott, Michael (Leah) Farrell, AnnMarie (Allyce) Sulkowski, Kimberly Vandervort, Rachel Vandervort, Travis Vandervort, Brett (Sarina) Meyer, Cory (Mai) Meyer, Lauren Meyer (Kyle) Leto, Diana (James) Barany and Jennifer (Tim) Blair; seventeen great-nieces and great-nephews; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Jr. and Arlene (Eggers) Vandervort; parents-in-law, Floyd and Mildred (Wyble) Haden; brother-in-law, Richard Haden; sisters-in-law, Mackie Vandervort and Patricia Babler; and uncle, Sonny Kissinger.

Edward F. Klimek
Edward Francis Klimek, 70, of Mt. Iron, formerly of Babbitt and Embarrass, was set free from this world on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his wife and daughters. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 2 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia with Rev. Father Brandon Moravitz as celebrant. A gathering time for family and friends will begin one hour prior to Mass at the church. Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia.
He is survived by his wife, Lynda Kachmarzinski Klimek; daughters, Jennifer (Matthew Clark) Klimek and Teresa Appelwick; grandchildren, Hunter and Isabelle; sister, Meylonie (Robert) Schatz; brother, Louie; sister-in-law, Betty Klimek; brothers-in-law, Rusty (Lorraine) Seelen, Willy (Rose) Seelen, Jim (Pam) Kachmarzinski and Donald (Janine) Kachmarzinski; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and many beloved cousins.

Delores L. Richter
Delores Lillian Salo Richter, 88, of Ely, originally of Embarrass, died on Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Range Funeral Home in Virginia. 
She is survived by her children, Ron Richter, Jimmy Hart and Maria Durnford; aunts and uncles; many nieces and nephews; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.