Allen Thorngren

Allen J. Thorngren, 93, of Beaver Bay Township, died Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay.

He was born in Duluth, to Frank and Agnes (Lind) Thorngren, on April 4, 1925.  Al was a lifelong resident of the North Shore and grew up in Beaver Bay.  He graduated high school in Two Harbors and served in the US Navy from 1943 to 1946.  Al married his first love, Margaret Novotny in 1945.  They returned to the North Shore, and he worked as a commercial fisherman and helped construct Reserve Mining.  He then worked for Reserve Mining from 1955 until retiring in 1985.  Al wintered in Corpus Christi, Texas for many years and was a very avid outdoorsman.

He trapped for furs and big game hunting in the fall and winter, and enjoyed trap shooting, fishing and camping in the summer.  The family started camping in a tent and worked their way up to a 26-foot Dodge Travco motor home, which saw nearly every one of the United States and several provinces of Canada. The family also spent time nearly every summer on Isle Royale, where Allen knew all of the last remaining commercial fishermen. The Dodge got too old and was replaced by a succession of 5th wheel trailers, which became he and Margaret's winter getaway, until her health would no longer allow that.  Al remained quite active late into life, driving nearly 30,000 miles a year going nowhere in particular, but to visit local friends, and when he got too old to drive, walking nearly a mile a day around town. He could be found nearly every morning at the lounge fulfilling another passion-playing cribbage.

He was a member of Sychar Lutheran Church, Silver Bay VFW, and the Silver Beaver Rifle Pistol Club.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; wife Margaret; brother, Richard; and sisters, Lois McMillen and Rita Rushenberg;

He is survived by his sons, Frank (Beth) and Allen (Becky); 5 grandchildren, Erica, Christopher, Nicholas, Joshua, and Heather; and a growing number of great grandchildren.

Burial will be 9:30 AM Saturday, May 26, 2018 at Beaver Bay Cemetery.  Visitation will follow from 10 AM until the 11 AM Memorial Service at Sychar Lutheran Church in Silver Bay.