Geraldine Mary (McCabe) Dobie, 92, of International Falls, Minn., passed away Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Society-International Falls.
Gerry was born Aug. 3, 1922, in her family’s home in Le Center, Minn. She was one of nine children.
On July 3, 1946, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Dobie of St. Peter, Minn. They moved to Ranier, Minn., in 1951, where they lived above Harry Ericskon’s store.
From there, Gerry and Ken moved to a small rental on Spruce Street for a couple of years and then purchased a home on Riverside Drive in Ranier.
Gerry worked at the Motor Lodge across from Piggly Wiggly (Super One) for several years, but her favorite job of all was being a loving mother to her family. While Ken worked for Boise, she spent her days raising seven wonderful children and being the very best grandmother to their children.
She was an astounding cook and an even better baker. Her home seemed to always smell of warm blueberry muffins or pan fried sunfish. Gerry even took pleasure in washing and ironing clothes.
Outside the home, Gerry and her husband Ken were avid gardeners, growing both wonderful vegetables and beautiful roses. They traveled often, taking either their motor home to Arizona or car and boat south to Orr, Minn., where they would fish on Pelican Lake.
In her free time she enjoyed picking blueberries, going for walks, knitting, crocheting, and embroidering. There are still many of her dish towels gracing her family’s homes.
Gerry loved talking at great lengths, even to people she didn’t know. She loved people.
She was a very devout Catholic, sang in the church choir at St. Thomas for years, and served in the Tabernacle Society and participated in Adoration as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ambrose and Margaret McCabe; brother, Anthony McCabe; and sisters, Aggie Gjerde and Helen McCabe.
Gerry is survived by her sons, Kenneth (Carolyn) Dobie of Shelton, Wash., Dick (Theo) Dobie of Kennewick, Wash., and Jim (Wendy) Dobie of Helena, Mont.; daughters, Charlotte (Jerry) Lindquist of Buffalo, Minn., Donna (Tom) Baron of International Falls, Kathy (Andres) Nelson of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Kelley Dobie of Northfield, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Ralph McCabe; and sisters, Rose Fredrickson, Betty Koch, Donna Frey and Margaret Lind.
Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Visitation will be one hour prior to service.
Rosary will begin at 10.
Interment will be at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, International Falls.
Memorials are preferred to St. Thomas Catholic Church or the Good Samaritan Society-International Falls.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joel Douglas Bucklen.
The only son of Gladys and Harry Bucklen, “Joe” (as he was known) was born in Bemidji, Minn., on Nov. 15, 1941.
He died at home in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.
Joe grew up in northern Minnesota, attended the University of Minnesota and upon graduation went to work for IBM in Minneapolis.
He began his career as a systems engineer working on wiring boards, and after finding his true talent worked his way to management position in sales and marketing.
In the true sense of “IBM – I’ve been moved,” Joe and his family lived in six states across the United States before settling in Raleigh.
Many of his closest friends were fellow IBMers and even his customers. Joe retired from IBM after 30 years but continued his work in marketing consulting for Fred Meyer, Pep Boys, and Mrs. Fields Cookies, until finally retiring to enjoy spending his time traveling, playing golf, and volunteering for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.
He loved his wife, his children and grandchildren, convertibles, skiing, travel, Holden Beach and good wine. Joe also loved golfing and was a long time member of North Ridge Country Club. Our thanks go to NRCC members and staff who were central to the wonderful times that he spent there.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Linda Drummond; his children, Jay Bucklen and his wife Eileen, Katie Bucklen and her husband John Lin, Chris Drummond and Wurth Hosch, and Allison (Drummond) Stewart and her husband Chris; and his fabulous grandchildren, Ian and Simon Lin, Samantha Bucklen and J.B. Stewart.
Despite struggling in his later years with Alzheimer’s and heart disease, Joe never lost his “Minnesota nice.” Joe was a wonderful, kind and loving man. It is truly a testament to his loving nature that despite his disease, he managed to maintain a positive and gracious attitude.
He was loved deeply by many. The world has lost a really good guy.
Many thanks to Veronica, Neisha, Saletha, Pasacha, and T’meka from Perpetual Homecare and Mia, Joan and Jacque from Transitions Hospice for their kind and loving care.
Family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary’s St.
A memorial was conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, in the funeral home chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (www.foodshuttle.org) or Alzheimer’s NC (www.alznc.org).
Condolences to the family at www.BrownWynne.com.
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Raleigh, was in charge of arrangements.
Wallace John Kucera Jr., age 79, a lifelong resident of International Falls, Minn., passed away suddenly Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014.
Wallace was Minnesota’s first born in 1935. He was born just one minute after midnight Jan. 1, to Wallace and Marie (Ballard) Kucera on the family farm in Ericsburg, Minn.
After graduating from Falls High School, he enlisted in the Army and served a tour of duty in Korea. He returned to International Falls following military service and gained employment at the local paper mill where he worked for 14 years.
During this time he also assisted his dad with local well drilling until Nov. 4, 1969, when he was disabled in a dynamite accident.
He entered into marriage in 1954 to Shirley Nelson and together they had five children.
Wallace enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor activities.
He is survived by his children, Wallace “Chip” Kucera III, Wayne (Kim) Kucera, Rocky (Deb) Kucera and Randy (Maureen) Kucera, all of Ranier, Minn., and Kathy (Marty) Labs of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Nikki (Kevin) Boyum, Casey Kucera, Tony (Bobbie) Kucera, Levi Kucera, John Kucera, Marty Labs, Zachery (Mary) Labs, Kelsey (Riley) Quinn, Adam Kucera, Ben Kucera and Dylan Kucera; five sisters, Lillian (Walt) Skoglund, Marie (Sis) Solo, Ruth (Tommy) Stewart, Carole (Mitchell) Meyers and June Smart; four brothers, Leonard Kucera, Chris (Bobbie) Kucera, Jim (Char) Kucera and Bill (Debra) Kucera; nine great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Wallace was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe and Helmer; and sister, Loraine.
A memorial service with flag presentation will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec.18, at Green-Larsen Mortuary.
Visitation will be one hour prior.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
Van Lynn P. Wilcox, 71, of International Falls, Minn., died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s, Duluth, Minn.
Van was born to Paul and Bernice (McIntyre) Wilcox on March 30, 1943, in International Falls and was a lifelong resident.
He graduated from Falls High School in 1961.
After graduation he served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1965 and returned to International Falls and worked for the Falls Credit Bureau.
Van purchased the Falls Credit Bureau in 1976 and retired in 2012 after many years as an accountant, specializing in tax preparation.
Van married the former Karin Carlson on Aug. 19, 1967, at St. Thomas Catholic Church.
He enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, camping, Elks bowling, spending time at his shack, and spoiling his dog, “Rudy.”
Van was a member of the Elks Lodge and a past Exalted Ruler at the Elks and held other positions. He was president of the Elks Bowling for 15 years and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Julien; son, Corday “Corey” Wilcox; brother, Marty Wilcox; and special friend, Leroy Belanger.
Van is survived by his wife, Karin Wilcox of International Falls; sons, Kale Wilcox of Brainerd, Minn., and Kirby Wilcox of International Falls; daughter, Dawn (Bill) Imhof of Littlefork, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Marti Lynn, Gannon and Alec Wilcox, Anna Imhof, Eric and Tyler White and Zach Mcdougall; father, Paul Wilcox of Ranier, Minn.; brother, Ronald Wilcox of Ranier; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Elks Lodge.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
Darryl L. Kelly Jr. passed away Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, at Cherokee Village, Ark.
He was born May 10, 1985, in McAllister, Okla.
He loved playing video games, rock collecting, and just being outdoors.
He is survived by his mother, Pamela Kelly of Cherokee Village; father, Darryl Kelly Sr. (Jacqueline Nielsen) of Camano Island, Wash.; sister, Danielle Reid-Kelly of Billings, Mont.; maternal grandmother, Ella Bradley of Cherokee Village; grandfather, Owen Armstrong of Lebanon, Tenn.; and paternal grandmother, Sharron Westerberg of Littlefork, Minn.
He will also be missed by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Two celebrations of his life are planned — the first, May 10, 2015, in Cherokee Village, where a Blue Spruce will be planted in his memory; and the second, a memorial service in Littlefork for his northern family and friends, in June.
