Geraldine Angela Koschak

Geraldine Angela Koschak, 83, of Ely, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026 in the loving presence of her family at Carefree Living in Ely.

Geri was born on August 19, 1942 in Ely to Frank and Angela (Orazem) Kosir. She grew up in Ely, helping her parents with the family business, Kosir’s Motel. Geri graduated from Ely Memorial High School (1960) and earned a BA in Education at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

On June 18, 1966, Geri married Dennis Koschak at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely, and they moved to Silver Bay, where they started their family. Geri and Denny were married for 35 years and had three sons – Bill, Bob, and Dave. After her husband passed in 2002, Geri reconnected with her friend Pat Ferderber and they enjoyed 23 years of companionship before her passing.

Geri deeply valued education and taught school in Virginia, Silver Bay, and Ely, where she retired from teaching language arts and business classes. She was a woman of many talents, and she could often be found working in her gardens, making potica, fishing and snowmobiling with Denny, golfing with Pat, and playing bridge with her “Bridge Ladies”. Geri took pride in being involved with her community in a range of roles in both Silver Bay and Ely, notably serving as an officer on the boards of the Ely Educational Foundation, AAUW-Ely Branch, and Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. She was also an avid traveler who went on adventures around the globe and was proud to have visited six of the world’s seven continents during her retirement.

Geri is survived by her children Bill Koschak (Los Angeles), Bob Koschak (Blaine), and Dave (Kate) Koschak (Ham Lake); her grandchildren Ryan, Andy, and Maren; her sisters Jane (Steve) Koschak, Sharon (Ed) Krumme, and Betty (Mike) Sipe; nieces and nephews Kevin (Tara), James (Krista), Grant (Samantha), Brandon (Jackie), Nick (Amber), Paige (Adam), and Madisen (Shane); and her beloved partner Pat Ferderber. She was preceded in death by her husband Dennis and her parents.

Services will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:00 am at St. Anthony's Catholic Church with visitation doors opening at 10:00 am. Lunch will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the Ely Educational Foundation and Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospice East Range.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home in Ely.

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