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 [...]

  Robert (Bob) Charles Peper passed away peacefully on May 10, 2025, at Eagle Ridge Memory Care in Osceola, Wisconsin, after a courageous battle with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Bob was 81 years old. Born on Jan. 30, 1944, in Napoleon, Ohio, Bob was the cherished son of Robert B. Peper and Ann Wilscam Peper. Bob graduated from Holgate High School in Ohio and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana. His profound calling led him to the Hamma School of Theology in Ohio, where he received his Master of Divinity degree and became [...]

  Christopher Ernst Nelson, age 60, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Chris was born on February 9, 1965, in Amery, Wisconsin, to Phillip and Mary Nelson. He was baptized and confirmed at Milltown Lutheran Church and raised on the family farm in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. His childhood was filled with the joy of farm life, time spent with his siblings, and cherished summers alongside his cousin, Erik. A proud graduate of Unity High School in 1983, Chris was an accomplished athlete, participating in football, baseball, basketball, and FFA. He went on to [...]

  Eunice Jean Early, a woman of remarkable talent, unwavering dedication, and vibrant spirit, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2025, at Boutwells Landing in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, just a few days before her 94th birthday. Born on May 31, 1931, in West Salem, Oregon, Eunice lived a life rich in purpose and passion. Eunice was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, deeply cherished by her family. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Gene Early; her parents, Lloyd and Florence Miller; and her brother, Wesley Miller. Her legacy lives on through her four children, [...]

  Joan Karen Route (Bengtson), age 79, of Pine City, Minnesota, passed away peacefully May 28, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Joan was born April 2, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Eldo and Helen (Danielson) Bengtson. She grew up in Frederic, Wisconsin, where she cherished time spent getting into mischief with her cousins during family gatherings. In school, Joan was active in 4-H and loved caring for and riding her horse, Tony. She was a majorette and deeply involved in music—participating in band, choir, madrigal, all-star band, triple trio, and pep band. In 1956, she was honored [...]