All Obituaries

Joel L. Marsh, age 85 of Deerwood died on April 21, 2020 at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. He was born on April 9, 1935 in Pine River to Frank and Amy (Linden) Marsh. Joel grew up in Nashwauk. He lived in the Hibbing area until moving to Coon Rapids.  Joel married Judith Kochevar in 1956.  Together they raised their four children. He was employed at Cottons Napa in Anoka and then opened Patrick Michael Supply until he retired to Deerwood. He was a...

Natalie Gerbich Spalj, age 91, of Deerwood died on May 3, 2020 in New Brighton.  Natalie was born on October 22, 1928 in Crosby.  She was the only daughter of Dorothy and Daniel Gerbich. On December 1, 1951, Natalie married John R. Spalj.  Together they raised four children and operated in family business, Spalj Construction Company.  Natalie was a loving and caring mother and grandmother.  She enjoyed playing bridge, golfing, and spending...

Nancy Yvonne Nelson, age 79 of Crosby died on June 2, 2020 at Golden Horizon’s Assisted Living in Aitkin. She was born on November 13, 1940 in Luck, WI to Frank and Pearl (Amborn) Nelson.  Nancy was a former Crosby-Ironton School Bus Driver, Crosby-Ironton School Food Service employee and former property manager of the Ironton Terrace.   Nancy is survived by her husband Bruce; four sons, Jeff (Caron) Grussendorf of Maple Grove, Dave Grussendorf of Chaska, Jody...

Charles Carl Perpich “Carlie”, age 99 of Ironton and Lester Prairie died on May 10, 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Carl was on May 29, 1920 in Crosby to George and Kathryn Perpich of Croatia.  He was baptized on July 4, 1920 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church by Fr. S. Fredrick.  He was the youngest of six children.  Carl graduated from the Crosby-Ironton High School, Class of 1938, the Crosby Junior College in 1940 and the...

Laura L. Gottschalk, age 103 of Crosby died on April 22, 2020 at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.  She was born on May 29, 1916 in Leaf Valley, MN to Henry and Ida (Froemming) Grosenick. Laura attended shool and graduated from the Alexandria High School.   Laura has been a resident in the Crosby area since 1994.  She moved here in 1994 from Lapeer, MI, where her and her husband helped in Lutheran ministries.  She was a member of the Zion...

Marian Irene Erickson, age 96 of Bay Lake passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2020, at Aicota Health Care Center, Aitkin, MN.  Due to the current restrictions on gatherings, the family will have a private visitation at Koop Funeral Home in Crosby and burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Minneapolis. Born May 25, 1923, on a farm near Kimball, MN, to James and Mina (Nordby) Lennox, Marian was the fifth of six children.  She attended a two-room schoolhouse near...

Raymond L. Shankle, age 75 of Deerwood died on April 20, 2020 at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.  He was born on February 16, 1945 in Knife Falls, MN to Oscar and Emma (White) Shankle.  Ray grew up in Deerwood and graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School, class of 1962. After graduation he left Deerwood, returning in 1989. He was a U.S. Army veteran.  Ray married Rita Kuchel on November 23, 1980 in Plymouth, Indiana. He was an independent over the...

Reverend Richard George Oberstar, M.S.F., age 90, of Crosby formerly of St. Mathias, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, entered eternal life on April 11, 2020. He was born June 28, 1929 in Eveleth, Minnesota to Fred Oberstar and Angeline (Muster) Oberstar. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Virginia, MN, class of 1948.  He attended the Virginia Junior College and St. Mary’s College in Seattle, WA. He was a U.S Army and Navy veteran. Father Richard...

Bernard J. “Bernie” Prinzing, age 88 of Emily died on April 8, 2020 at his home.  He was born on April 23, 1931 in Faribault to Henry and Lucille (Duffney) Prinzing.  Bernie married Katherine Mollenhauer in Medford on October 3, 1949.  He was the owner and operator of the Trader’s Palace Marine in Outing and a former owner of Vacation Properties Real Estate in Emily for 12 years.  He was a member of St. Emily’s Catholic Church...

John H. Savaloja, age 67 of Trommald died at his home on April 6, 2020 after 599 days of battling Glioblastoma.  He was born on February 3, 1953 in Wadena to Harold and Shirley (Erckenbrack) Savaloja.  John married Virginia “Ginny” Milberry on September 20, 2001 in Trommald.  He was a retired Highway Technician with MNDOT with 29 years of service. John is survived by his wife Ginny; his mother, Shirley Savaloja of Deerwood; one step son, Patrick...