LAKE SUPERIOR FREETHINKERS

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On December 18, 2023, the Lake Superior Freethinkers donated $2190 to its 2023 community partner, One Roof Community Housing. 

The funds donated to One Roof included a $1000 community partnership grant from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and $1190 in matching funds donated by Lake Superior Freethinkers members.

One Roof is a non-profit organization committed to providing housing services, and to building and sustaining affordable homes and healthy neighborhoods. One Roof Community Housing has been featured in recent news articles, emphasizing its role in bringing more affordable housing to Duluth, especially housing to meet the needs of seniors.

The Lake Superior Freethinkers is delighted to support One Roof Community Housing, as the two organizations have a good working relationship. One Roof has provided space for the Lake Superior Freethinkers to convene its monthly “First Sunday” programs over the last year. Several LSF members have worked with One Roof staff to maintain appropriate building security, to arrange audio-visual equipment for LSF programs, and to assure that the Community Center meeting room is set up for the next users.

Dr. Allen E. Loken, 75, transitioned out of this life on May 8, 2023, at his home in Duluth, MN, with the love and comfort of his wife Kimberle, son Troy, and daughter Kari by his side.

Allen was born in Cambridge, MA, and raised in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up in a loving family with sisters Evonne, Gwen, Lynette, and brother Warren. Some of his fondest memories included time spent on the Loken and Buehler farms in South Dakota with his grandparents and cousins, as well as summers on Pickerel Lake where he first met his wife, Kim.

Allen graduated from West High School in 1966 and went on to the University of Minnesota. After graduating from the U of MN’s School of Dentistry, Allen, Kim, and Troy moved to Burlington, VT for his residency. There they met lifelong friends, Fred and Pat Gonzales, with whom they enjoyed skiing and sailing trips over the years. His early career included working for the Public Health service in Gallup, NM and Red Lake, MN, before returning to the Twin Cities to complete his specialty in Orthodontics.

In 1979, Allen and Kim moved to Duluth to set up his practice and raise their family. He shared his passion for adventure and love of the outdoors with his wife, children, and grandchildren – skiing, snowboarding, sailing, windsurfing, and tennis – to name just some of his favorites. His adventures took him whitewater rafting, kayaking, horse-packing, and mountain biking with the UMD Outdoor program. He also frequently took his family camping, canoeing, and to warm destinations on sailing or windsurfing trips to escape the cold Duluth winters. He enjoyed numerous ski trips out West and camping trips in Northern Minnesota with his high school friends.

Fortunate to retire early, he was able to enjoy 20 years of uninterrupted birdwatching, guitar playing, New York Times crosswords, reading, and spending quality time with Kim, as well as Troy and Kari and their families. He remained gripped by wanderlust and traveled whenever he had the chance. He delighted in spending his summers on lakes, including racing sailboats on Lake Superior – even once winning the Richardson Cup – and he always looked forward to and cherished a family week each summer on the shores of Pelican Lake at Fair Hills Resort. In more recent years, he and Kim took once-in-a-lifetime vacations to the Galapagos, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

Avid birdwatchers, Allen and Kim traveled on birding trips from coast to coast, following migration patterns and working on identifying species to add to their yard, county, state, and life lists. He especially reveled in birding trips with Minnesota Birding Weekends (MBW) and learning from leaders Kim Eckert and Craig Mandel. He and Kim even proudly accomplished “a Minnesota big year.” Allen also actively participated in the community of Lake Superior Free Thinkers and deeply treasured his conversations with its founder Bill van Druten.

Jan Marc Resberg of Superior, Wisconsin was born in Duluth, Minnesota on December 9, 1947 to Alvin and Irene (Patnaude) Resberg. He passed away on March 11, 2023 of pancreatic cancer. He felt grateful for having had the many experiences life offered him and for the hundreds of people who allowed him to share in their stories and journeys. Friends and relatives often described his life as an adventure starting as a Benedictine Monk and ending, as he would say, a devout atheist. He would describe his life as one of service and serendipity.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his niece Kimberly Omer-Holland, and cousin Jack R. McDonald. He is survived by his brother Tim (Kathy) Resberg, sisters Beth Williams, Kathy Resberg, nephews and nieces Eric (Julie) Resberg, Aaron (Tracy Meyers) Resberg, Chris (Mandie) Resberg, Mike (Jesse) Gannucci, Britt Williams, Andrea (Cullen) Flaherty, Paige (Mike) Claflin, Amy (Mike Derrick) Resberg. His aunt Carol (Jack) Paquette, Margaret Patnaude, special cousin Bob McDonald, many grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

A sincere thank you to the healthcare professionals at St. Luke’s Hospice and Superior Rehabilitation Center.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 7 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Black Woods Event Center in Proctor, MN. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Heifer International, Proctor Area Historical Society, or Lake Superior Freethinkers.