Obituaries - Dec. 19, 2010

Gladys I. Johnson, 75

Gladys I. Johnson, 75, of Redwood City, Calif., formerly of Proctor, died Dec. 5, 2010, at the Veterans Affairs facility in Palo Alto, Calif. After graduating from Proctor High School, Gladys joined the Army along with her brother Kenneth; they were heralded as the area’s first brother-sister team to join the World War II effort. Gladys trained with the Women’s Army Corps in California and went on to serve in France, Germany and Switzerland. Gladys liked California so much that she went back there after her military service. She lived in San Francisco, where she worked for the Home Insurance Company for 45 years. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Carl M. and Emma Johnson-Finnerty; brother Kenneth Johnson and his wife, Joyce; brother Leonard; sister Dorothy and her husband, Robert Johnson; sister Dolly and her husband, Ralph Utsch; and sister Virginia and her husband, William Newgren Sr. She is survived by her sister Joyce Laakkonen, of Duluth, and Joyce’s children: Terrie Earls of Cloquet, Sharon Willeck of Solon Springs and Steven Willeck of Montana; her godsons: Kenneth Carl Johnson of Clifton, Colo., and Bruce K. Johnson of Paris; her best friend, Louise Hall of Redwood City; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cremation services have been performed; burial in Oneota Cemetery is pending.

Vernice A. Kossett, 96

Vernice A. Kossett, 96, of Duluth, died Dec. 11, 2010, at Benedictine Health Center. Services were held Dec. 14 at Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home, with inurnment at Polish Catholic Cemetery.

Troy Joseph Kroll, 28

Troy Joseph Kroll, 28, of Duluth, died Dec. 9, 2010, at Rainy Lake Medical Center in International Falls. Services were held Dec. 16 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, with inurnment at Polish Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home.

Lorraine Marjorie (Person) Olsen

Lorraine Marjorie (Person) Olsen died Dec. 11, 2010, at St. Luke’s Hospice. Services will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 18, at First Lutheran Church. Arrangements are being handled by Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home.

Thomas Paczynski, 65

Former Duluthian Thomas Paczynski, 65, died Dec. 9, 2010, at his home. Services were held Dec. 15 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota.

Larry ‘Packy’ Pederson, 50

Larry “Packy” Pederson, 50, of Duluth, died Dec. 12, 2010. Services were held Dec. 17 at Christ Lutheran Church. Arrangements were handled by Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home.

Elaine Sands

Elaine Sands died Dec. 10, 2010, at Chris Jensen Health Center in Duluth. No services will be held. Arrangements are being handled by Bell Brothers Funeral Home. Call 624-5745.

Muriel Sundstrom, 87

Duluth native Muriel Sundstrom, 87, died Dec. 12, 2010, at Benedictine Health Center. Services were held Dec. 16 at French River Lutheran, with burial in Sunrise Memorial Park in Hermantown.

Karen J. Trentman, 54

Karen J. Trentman, 54, of Duluth, died Dec. 13, 2010. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 4901 E. Superior St. Father Thomas Radaich will officiate. Memorials preferred to Safe Haven Shelter for Women and the Courage Center of Duluth. Arrangements are being handled by the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 624-5200.

Donna M. Wolean, 88

Donna M. Wolean, 88, of Duluth, died Dec. 7, 2010, at Viewcrest Health Center. Services were held Dec. 13 at New Life Covenant Church. Arrangements were handled by Williams-Lobermeier Funeral Home.