E. Wayne Peppenger, 76, of the Town of Bone Lake, Wisconsin, died peacefully Saturday, June 7, 2025. He was born at the Grantsburg (Burnett County), Wisconsin, hospital on Oct. 19, 1948, the oldest of four children born to Eugene and Pearl (Berg) Peppenger. Wayne attended school at Frederic, Wisconsin, and Amery, Wisconsin, and finally at Luck, Wisconsin, and graduated with the Class of 1966. On Dec. 27, 1966, in a small intimate ceremony in Taylors Falls (Chisago County), Minnesota, he married his high school sweetheart, Maxine Carol Cruthers, and the two of them began a life journey that lasted more [...]

Milo Arthur Gray, 89, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota. Milo was born on June 30, 1935, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Gordon and Gladys Gray. He is survived by his wife, Arlue Gray, children, Robert (Cindy), David (Sarah), and Steve (Kristen); many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, stepchildren, step-great-grandchildren, step-great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Beverly, and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ron. The funeral service for Milo will be held at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, June [...]

  Winona Kaydelle Olson, 88, passed away peacefully at her home in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, on June 11, 2025. She was born on Dec. 5, 1936, to Leonard and Sylvia Bangtson in Willmar, Minnesota. Winona graduated from high school in Willmar in 1955 and attended Ancker Hospital School of Nursing, earning her registered nurse degree in 1958. She dedicated many years to nursing, retiring at the age of 72. She met the love of her life, Curtis D. Olson, in Grantsburg, and they married on Oct. 18, 1958. Together they raised three children, Ed, Robyn and Mark. They made their home [...]

  It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Ross Anthony Stevens. He passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025, at the age of 58, from complications after suffering a stroke. Ross is survived by his wife, Lori; daughter, Stephanie; stepdaughters, Megan (Kyle) and Amanda; and grandchildren, Jorell, Kinley, Lucas, Keirreon, Lane, Gage and Kashton. Also, parents, Maynard and Judy; siblings, Reed (Laurie), Rian, Rachelle and Renette (Eric); and many nieces and nephews. Ross was preceded in death by his grandparents, Guy and Unita Chivers, Jacob and Margaret Stevens; and his sister-in-law, Lisa. Ross was born on April [...]

  Gary Joseph Blanski, age 82, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, June 6, 2025. Gary was born to Walter and Inez (Berry) Blanski on Oct. 22, 1942, in Minnesota. He joined the Army at age 17 and later received his GED. At the age of 20, Gary started working at NSP as a machinist and continued working there until his retirement at age 55. In 1964, Gary was united in marriage to Marjorie Swanson, and together they raised seven children. Throughout his life, Gary enjoyed playing baseball, softball, golfing with his son Mark and bowling. Later [...]

  Vance Johnson passed peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Dove Health Care, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, at the age of 84. Vance was born to Lawrence and Florence Johnson in Frederic, Wisconsin, on June 20, 1940. In his early years he attended Danbury Grade School and then graduated from Hinckley High School in 1959. He married in 1959, had two sons and later divorced. Vance worked in the pulp wood business and then in construction, with increasing responsibilities operating heavy equipment. He worked with some of the best dragline operators, gaining experience laying pipe for city utilities, building [...]

  Pat was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and attended St. Charles Borromeo School and Edison High School. Pat retired as a personnel specialist with the US Department of Agriculture. She is preceded in death by husbands, Leo Burns and Wally Davis; parents, Andrew and Rose Anderson; brothers/in-laws, Donald, Jim, Hoyce, Nellie, and Roger. She is survived by sister, Joan; brothers, Jack (Phyllis) and Bill (LaRae); and many, many, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; as well as many good friends. Pat spent most of her life "at the lake". First, at Lake Independence, then Eagle Lake, Lake Winnebago, and finally, [...]

  Dwight Swanson was born September 28, 1942, in Polk County, Wisconsin, to Carl and Bernice Swanson. He grew up with five brothers on the family farm. On August 2, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Berg. Together, they purchased Donna’s family farm. They enjoyed traveling and snowmobiling locally and riding the trails at Yellowstone National Park. Dwight loved restoring old tractors. After retirement from the farm, Dwight worked for the fertilizer plant in Milltown, Wisconsin. Dwight is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donna Swanson; daughter, Karen and her husband, Brad Emerson; granddaughters, Tanya (Jason) Stokes, [...]

  Audrey J. Nelson passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025, at Christian Community Homes of Osceola, Wisconsin. She was 90 years old. Audrey was born April 4, 1935, to Maynard and Alma (Peterson) Ekstrand in Dresser, Wisconsin. She was baptized and confirmed at the Osceola Methodist Church. Audrey was raised on her parents’ farm five miles east of Osceola. It was here she learned to respect and love nature and animals, especially her quarter horse Daisy. She attended school in Osceola and graduated in 1953. She moved to Minneapolis where she was employed at the Minneapolis Star & Tribune. [...]

  Debbie (Yunker) Slayton was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Rolland and Louise Yunker on July 11, 1956. She passed away with family, at her home on May 17, 2025. Debbie loved to fish, horses, bonfires and the Green Bay Packers. She will be missed by friends and family. Debbie is survived by her husband, Jerry; mother, Louise; sister, Kathy; children, Bobbie Jo (Austin), Billy (Bobbi Jo) and Harry (Danica); stepdaughters, Brenda and Amber; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Rolland; son, Neil; uncle, Larry; and mother-in-law, Pearl. A Celebration of Life [...]