Grace Zemlin

Grace E. Zemlin, 104, died in Two Harbors on Thursday April 30, 2015.  She had been a resident of the city for 87 years.

She was born on August 9, 1910 in Duluth, daughter of Adolph and Mabel (Evanson) Christianson.  She and John E. Zemlin of Two Harbors were married shortly after her graduation from Denfeld High School in 1928.   He died on December 30, 1990.

When Grace was 60 years old she took up watercolor painting and was an avid painter into her 90’s. Until recently, she loved Friday night suppers with a group of her rowdy friends.

The Brimson community was a second home to Grace and John. They had a cabin in Brimson and were active in the Bassett Congregational Church and the Brimson Action Club.  They were also members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Two Harbors, Sons of Norway, and Northwoods Pioneer Craft Co-op. Grace was a member of the Voyageur Art Club, and was a Life Member of the Lake Superior Watercolor Society and the Artists of Minnesota.

When asked recently the secret to her longevity, Grace replied, “There’s no secret.  You just have to have good parents.”

Two children were born to Grace and John--Willard (1929-1998) and Yvonne (1931-1969).   Grace is survived by daughter-in-law Eileen (Lindquist) Zemlin of Carmel, IN; grandchildren: Therese Zemlin (John Schulz) of Andover, MA, Karl Zemlin (Nancy Wiseman) of Carmel, IN, and Joseph Zemlin (Jung Shik) of San Diego, CA;  great-grandchildren: Julia Williams (Grant), Ellen Zemlin, Johnathan Zemlin, Caroline Zemlin, and Jasmine Zemlin;  niece-in-law Karin Norlen, cousin-in-law Phil DuFresne; and many dear friends.

Donations can be made to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Two Harbors, Bassett Church in Brimson or the Two Harbors Food Shelf.

Services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday June 27, 2015 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Two Harbors.