Obituaries

May 30, 2020

Oknick Catherine M. "Kay" Age 93 of Vadnais Heights Peacefully passed away, surrounded by her family, on May 30, 2020. Preceded in death by her husband Ronald and daughter Marjorie. Survived by children Ronald Oknick, Barbara Tuszynski, Christine Finlay and Timothy Oknick; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was a longtime member of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic...

May 28, 2020

Helen M. Closmore, age 79 of St. Paul, Minnesota passed away on May 28, 2020. She is preceded in death by her parents, John & Martha Bussjaeger, Brother John and Husband Gary. Helen will be deeply missed by her Children Steven Bussjaeger (Rose) and Barbara White, Step Children Sheri Dotas (Kent), Cassandra Koza (Gary), Grandchildren; Jackie, Steven, Sami and Great...

May 24, 2020

RICK GILLITZER - FUNERAL SERVICE AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE Saturday, July 25, 2020 Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club 2920 East 220th Street Prior Lake, MN 3:00pm - 10:00pm 3:00pm: Funeral Service lead by pastor Greg Grimstad from Eagle Brook Church Reception following the service 6:00pm: Celebration of Life music provided by Vinyl Recliner We will follow the covid social gathering...

May 23, 2020

Kristine "Kris" Anne Sauer (nee Johnson) Age 51 of White Bear Lake Passed Away on May 23, 2020 Kris is survived by her children, Samantha, Nicholas, Tommy and Joey; her parents, Lonnie and Pat; her siblings, Dan (Karina), Lori (Mike) Cocchiarella and Bill (Kristy); many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers,...

May 19, 2020

Zimmel Virginia Age 91 of St. Paul Passed away on May 19, 2020 Preceded in death by husband Michael. Survived by children Rebecca Johnson, Dave Zimmel (Kathleen McCarthy) and Barbara Zimmel; grandchildren Jared, Lauren, Brendan, Ryan & Nolan and great grandson Easton. Family service and burial at Union Cemetery, Maplewood.

May 16, 2020

Ashley Lynn Way Soukup, 37, died at home on 5/16/20 in White Bear Lake. Born a Buckeye, Ashley didn’t know what she was getting into when she fell in love and followed her husband and heart: first to Buffalo, NY, and eventually settling in Minnesota. She always said that the leap was one of the best decisions she ever made....

May 15, 2020

Dennis P Ruettimann, 68, of St. Paul, was taken due to complications of Covid- 19 on Friday, May 15, 2020. He was a 39 year dedicated employee of ISD833. Preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Helen; siblings, Louis “Buz”, Jerry, Rita, and Joan. Survived by his children, Dennis (Bonnie) and Jason; siblings, Mary Lou (Jerry) and John (Cris)....

May 14, 2020

Harvey John Griffith “Harv” An Honorable Man 90, passed away peacefully at Minnesota Veterans Home, Minneapolis, on May 14, 2020. He was raised on the East Side of St. Paul, graduating from Harding High School. Harvey was a Korean War Veteran. Harvey and Deloris Merzenich were married in 1949. They had three children, Steven (Danette) Griffith of White Bear Lake,...

May 14, 2020

Stronge, James Jonathan Passed away on 5/14/2020 at the age of 88 Preceded in death by parents, Florence and Sidney Stronge; first wife, Jennifer; and sister, Sidney Taylor. Survived by wife, Marlene; his children, Bill (Linda), Elizabeth (Glen), and Laura (Roger); grandchildren, Aaron, Devin, Nicholas, Ashley, and Jenna; Marlene’s children, John (Annissa), Mary Jo, Jim (Cherri), Tom (Cindy), Gary (Monica),...

May 13, 2020

Anna Kancans, Age 97 From White Beal Lake, MN Born March 15, 1923 in Rezekne, Latvia Died May 13, 2020 in St. Paul, MN Married 1944-2015. Preceded in Death by her husband of 71 years Vaclavs Kancans. Survived by her children Ingrida, Anita, John, Silvija and Andrew together with 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild Anna was a 21-year-old refugee...

May 13, 2020

Lori Needham, 61, of St. Paul, passed away May 13th of kidney disease. Preceded in death by her mother, Sandy; father, Mike; sister, Stacy; and Partner, Jim. Survived by her sister, Tami; brother, Dan; niece, Madison; nephews, Travis and Eric; and dear friend, Kathy. Lori enjoyed reading, casino trips, and time spent at the cabin with her family. A celebration...

May 13, 2020

Robert L. Uzpen, Jr. Robert “Bob” L. Uzpen, Jr., 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Gem Lake on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. He was born in St. Paul on April 29, 1948 to Robert L. Uzpen and the late Anna Mae Uzpen. He was a graduate of Hill-Murray (then Hill). He served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1969...

May 9, 2020

Dennis grew up on the Eastside of St. Paul for most of his life, with the support of his dad and mom, Gerald and Doris Zarbinski. He grew up with two loving brothers Dale and Donnie. Dennis had six children he loved and cherished with all of his heart; Molly & Scot, Kate & Andy, and Sean & Michelle. He...

May 5, 2020

Murphy, J. Gregory (Greg) Age 82 of Shoreview. Born and raised in Aitkin, MN, he was a proud alum of the U of M class of 1960 and served 46 years as a stock broker. He is survived by his sons: Joe (Sarah) of Vadnais Heights and Greg of Maplewood. Mass of Christian Burial was held and he was buried...

May 5, 2020

On May 5, 2020, we lost our beloved grandson, son and brother, Peter Abraham Matsumoto, at the age of 39. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00AM on Friday, May 8, 2020 at Assumption Catholic Church in Saint Paul, MN with Father John Malone celebrating. Interment was at Oakland Cemetery in Marine on St. Croix. Peter...

May 3, 2020

Beverly Rose Wald Age 86, previously of White Bear Lake died on May 3rd, 2020 Amazing Mom, Grandma and Great-grandma. Reunited with her husband Vernon, son John, sister Geraldine, brother Tom, parents Fred and Elizabeth Hodsdon, and many dear friends. Forever missed by her children Mary, Terri, Mike (Doris), Chuck, and Tony (Lori); her grandchildren Logan (Vana), Katherine, Jonny, and...

May 2, 2020

Apr 29, 2020

Raverty Patricia Jane (Flynn) Age 93, formerly of White Bear Lake Died peacefully on April 29. Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. Preceded in death by loving husband, Paul, brothers (Virgil, David, Edward) and parents (Katherine and Edward). Survived by children, Kevin (Kris) and Kathleen (Mark) Drayna; grandchildren Benjamin and Megan Drayna; step-grandchildren Joseph and Jaclyn Hamilton; sister-in-law Donna...

Apr 27, 2020

Barbara L. Crea (nee Sass) Age 64 Passed away unexpectedly on April 27, 2020. Preceded in death by parents, Glenn and Muriel Borchardt; sisters, Kristin and Janet; brother-in-law, Bruce Bergen. Survived by children, Holly (Wayne) Heaser and Tim (Pam) Crea; grandchildren, Frederick, Mallory, and Audrey Heaser; niece and goddaughter, Michaela Starr; sister Linda Bergen, brother-in-law, Randy Puppe; beloved dogs, Ruby...

Apr 27, 2020

Elzabeth (Beth) Miner Just weeks before her 60th wedding anniversary Beth died of complications related to her five year struggle with Alzheimer’s. She is survived by her husband, Ran Miner, her son, Tim Miner (Ellen Montgomery), daughter Elzabeth Lampert along with four grandchildren, Seth and Stella Miner, Zoe and Ivy Lampert and brother Jim Kidd. Born in Rochester, New York...