Roberta Jane Coe Wheeler,
Roberta Jane Coe Wheeler,
“Our Birdi,” 56, of Hovland, died Friday, April 16, 2010 at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais.
She was born August 31, 1953 to Joe and Fern (Anderson) Ansello in Duluth. Birdi loved being an ironworker. After being hurt on the job, she moved to Grand Portage, where she worked for the Park Service for 12 years before retiring due to medical reasons. She was a member of Iron Worker’s Local #378 of Oakland, California. Birdi enjoyed gardening, feeding birds, especially her hummingbirds, and above all else loved spending time with her family.
Roberta is preceded in death by her mother and fathers, Fern and Glen Boostrom, Joe Ansello, and very special great niece Gabriella Ansello.
She is survived by her husband, John Wheeler; daughters, Becky (Jeramie) Lentz, Amber (Joe) Weiss, and Mary Andrea Wheeler; sons, Mitch (Allison) Coe, and Richard (Jessica) Wheeler; brother, Dan “Devil” Ansello; sisters, Judy Ansello, Gale (Carbine) Carlson, and Sally (Curt) Gagnon, the love of her life, grandchildren, Dean Dylan Lentz, Marley Coe, Karie Wheeler, Nicholas Weiss, and Mark Alan Wheeler; children’s great-grandmother, Myrle Coe, mother and father-inlaw, Mary and Jim Gallow, and many loved nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2010 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais. Arrangements by Cavallin Funeral Home.
Richard Lee “Rick” White,
Richard Lee “Rick” White,
82, died unexpectedly after a brief illness on April 16, 2010, in Thomasville, GA. Rick, a native of Big Falls, Minn., was born May 13, 1927, to Sarah and Delbert White.
He served in the Army with the American Occupation Forces in Berlin, Germany, from 1945-46. He graduated from Bemidji State University and earned multiple master’s degrees from St. Thomas College, the University of Arizona, and the University of Wisconsin- Superior.
As a lifelong educator, he taught in the Minnesota school districts of Littlefork, Grand Marais, St. Paul Park, Ely, and at Unity High School in Duluth. His last teaching assignment at age 72 was at Fond du Lac Community College in Cloquet. Rick also served as the village treasurer and clerk for the City of Big Falls, was a member of the St. Louis County Social Services Advisory Board, president of the Northshore Clinic, and was a recipient of the Peacemaker Award in 1996 for his work in Duluth. He was instrumental in implementing the dual-enrollment system for high school students and securing funding to bring computers into the classroom.
He is survived by his wife, Lisbeth Wennen White, Thomasville, GA.; three sons, Thomas (Mary Pat), Fort Worth, Texas, Todd (Stacy), Duluth, and Jeff, also of Duluth; one daughter, Becky (Marlo) Johanson, Minneapolis; two step-children, Daniel (Pam) Dickrell, Gainesville, FL., and Melissa Dickrell, Hayward, WI.; many beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Rick touched many lives, made many friends throughout his life, and will be sadly missed for his intellect, philosophy, creativity, humor, quiet generosity, and the inspiration he lovingly provided for all.
At his request, his remains will be returned to Minnesota for a celebration of life in July.
Leave a Reply