Deborah (Debbie) Deyak

Deborah (Debbie) Deyak passed away at Carefree Living in Ely, MN after a 10-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Debbie was born in Winton, MN  on June 19th, 1949 to Louis and Florence (Slogar) Kotzian. She was fortunate to grow up in Ely when it was at its prime as an underground mining and logging town. She spent countless days in Whiteside Park, the Pioneer ice skating rink and her daily visits to Peshels.  In high school, Debbie and her sister operated a car washing business out of the grease room in her uncle Bunny Slogar’s Mobil gas station. (Currently Lucky 7). At age 15 she met the love of her life, Frank (Anker) Deyak) and they were high school sweethearts for 4+ years before marrying in 1968. From the beginning, they shared a common thread, their love of water and fishing. 

Debbie lived in Stillwater, MN and worked at 3M Company as a senior bookkeeper. In the early 1970s, they purchased lakeshore on Browns Lake outside of Ely and weekends were spent at the lake in Ely as much as possible. In 1979 Debbie’s son was born and she elected to become a stay-at-home mom. Debbie was a dedicated hockey mom and spent 100s of hours in ice arenas throughout the Twin Cities and Minnesota. Debbie had a wit and humor about her like no other and could always make you laugh. She loved to work crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and watch Dr. Phil and crime TV. Debbie traveled often and has visited France, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Grand Cayman Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico and much of the United States. Retiring in 2003 Debbie moved back to Browns Lake and built a house next to their cabin. But her traveling wasn’t over and every winter Debbie and her husband spent 3-4 weeks in their favorite city in Mexico, La Paz on the Baja Sur. She enjoyed the sun, the fantastic food and fishing with local Mexican fishermen on their pangas on the Sea of Cortez. And her summers were spent fishing on the lakes in the Ely area. Debbie’s wish was to remain in her home during this prolonged battle with cancer and she was able to spend all but her last 13 days at the lake. 

Debbie is survived by her husband Frank (Anker) Deyak, grandson Parker Stewart Deyak (Woodbury, MN), mother Florence Kotzian, sister Jo Ann Carlson (Harry), brother Louis (Bosko) (Connie) Kotzian, sister in laws Judy Ostrander and Mary Lou Voelk and numerous nieces and nephews. Debbie was preceded in death by her father Louis Kotzian and her son, Bryan Jon Deyak.

At Debbie’s request, no service will be held. A celebration of life will be held for Debbie this summer. The family wishes to thank East Range Hospice and Carefree Living for the love and care shown to Debbie.  

Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

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