Mable Stoltz

Mable Emelia Johnson Stoltz of Grand Marais was called to her heavenly home to be with Jesus and her loving husband, Paul, on Sunday, July 15, 2012.

Mable (Midge) Johnson was born in Duluth, Minnesota on September 20, 1911 to Matt and Emma Sather Johnson. When Mable was 8 months old, her mother died from tuberculosis. She and her sister, Margaret, and her dad, Matt Johnson, moved back to Grand Marais to live with her grandparents, whom a very young Mable helped take care of despite their speaking only Norwegian. Later, Matt married Pauline Aarsvold Johnson. Her father served as clerk of County Court and ran the Grand Marais Herald paper before opening Johnson's Grocery store. Mable and her sister helped raise three young brothers.

Mable was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. She graduated from Cook County High School and Duluth Business College. She worked for her dad at the Grocery Store and also as a bookkeeper. In 1940, she made a daring move, for that time, to Orlando, Florida where she worked as a medical secretary for 17 years living with a group of "southern belles", who became lifetime friends. She traveled extensively to Europe, Asia and Cuba. She returned to Grand Marais in 1957 to marry Paul Stoltz, a widower and local business man.

She was a very active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Book Club, and Garden Club. She loved curling, playing bridge and golf where she was known for her ability to hit a low, straight ball that almost never got lost. Mable was known for her beautiful begonias which graced the steps of her home as well as her beautiful flower garden. Many remember playing on the roof top of her garage as children while eating her homemade cookies.

Mable and her sister Margaret, sometimes referred to as "M & M" spent winters in Tucson, AZ, and were some of the first to move into the Homestead Cooperative after their husbands died. Mable was a devoted wife, sister, aunt, and grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her brother and sister-in- law Paul and Ethel Johnson of Grand Marais, several nieces and nephews, step -daughter -in- law, Kathy Stoltz of Minneapolis, two step -granddaughters, Jennifer Stoltz (Courtney Johnson) of Grand Marais and Julie Stoltz ( Roger Bromander ) and step - great grand son Ian Bromander of St. Paul. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, sister Margaret and brother - in - law Rev. J. L. Ranum, sister Merle Johnson, brother and sister- in- law, Ted and Hannah Johnson, brother and sister-in-law, Tumsey and Mildred Johnson, and step son, George Stoltz.

Services will be held on Friday, July 20 at 1:30pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Visitation will be one hour prior to services with burial at Maple Hill Cemetery next to Paul Stoltz. Memorials in place of flowers may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.