Earl Chellew

Celebration of Life for Earl Leslie Chellew, 90, of Biwabik will be 11 am Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at the Community United Church of Christ in Biwabik with Pastor Paul Van Antwerp officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik. Military honors will be accorded by the Aurora/Hoyt Lakes Color Guard. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Mr. Chellew passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN. Earl’s family would like to thank all the staff at the Veteran’s Home for the loving care given to Earl during the five years he lived there. Earl was born on April 18, 1924 to Leslie and Ione (Morin) Chellew in Biwabik. He grew up and attended school in Biwabik, graduating from the Biwabik High School, Class of 1942. Following school, he went to work on the track gang for the railroads. Earl enlisted in the US Army serving 169 days on the front lines during WWII, consequently being awarded the Bronze Star. On April 17, 1948 Earl married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Colangelo at the Community Church in Biwabik. The couple made their home in Biwabik and remained lifelong residents. Earl was employed by the DM&IR Railroad and later as a custodian/school bus driver for the Biwabik School until his retirement in 1979. He was an active member of the Community United Church of Christ in Biwabik, serving as the Treasurer for many years and helping with numerous building projects. Earl volunteered for the Biwabik Fire Department, played in the Biwabik City Band, and was a member of the Biwabik American Legion. He and Liz enjoyed their casino trips, traveling, especially to Hawaii and Las Vegas as well as spending time fishing at his cabin on Lake Vermilion. He is survived by his wife of 66 years: Elizabeth; his only daughter: Beth (Lynn) Babcock of Palo; two grandchildren: Audrey Babcock of Minneapolis and Earl (Noemi Szekely) Babcock of Neufahrn, Germany; a sister-in-law: Yvonne Chellew of San Jose, CA; numerous nieces and nephews; and Jill (Bezek) Stachyra of Vienna, VA who was a just like a daughter to Earl. He was preceded in death by two brothers: Robert and Stanley Chellew and his parents, Leslie and Ione Chellew.