Daniel R.

Saarela

Dan Saarela 87, passed away at The Legacy in Farmington, MN, on August 25, 2024. Born in Pike Township on December 1, 1936, to Daniel and Helia (Kopponen) Saarela, he was the youngest of eight children.

Dan is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Tim and his wife Laura, and their children Neal and Erin (Brian Sebring); Greg and his wife Karen, and their children Maddie (Bryant Stein), Ryan (Nicole), and Reid (Sydney); Susan and her husband Bob Lubovich, and their children Taylor (Dustin Filan), Alec (Courtney), and Jordan; Kerry and her husband Paul Beton, and their children Rachel and Jake; great-grandchildren Brooklynn Saarela, Spencer Sebring, Liam Stein, Jensen Lubovich, Logan Filan, and soon-to-be baby Lubovich; brother-in-law Dick Pucel; sisters-in-law Janice Pucel (Don Debeltz), Lorene Pucel, Jean Saarela; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marlene, his parents, his brothers Albert (Madie), Roy (Lois), Robert, Richard (Alice), and his sisters Lillian King (Charles), Helen Sambaum (Edward), Florence Nelson (George), brother-in-law Joseph J. Pucel, and his parents-in-law Mary and Joseph L. Pucel.

Dan grew up in Pike Township and graduated from Embarrass High School in 1954, where he excelled in football, basketball, track (the Flying Finns), and baseball. He attended Ely Junior College in 1956, followed by the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he played football and received the Anderson Dahl Academic Achievement Award. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Teaching in 1960 and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1970.

On July 23, 1960, Dan married Marlene Pucel of Ely at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. He began his teaching and coaching career in Comfrey, MN, and continued in Arlington/Green Isle, MN, in 1962. In 1966, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Biwabik High School, concluding his career at Mesabi East High School. Dan was a head football and track coach for almost four decades, a life member of the Minnesota State Coaches Association, and was inducted into the Mesabi East Hall of Fame in 2016. Throughout his career, he positively influenced numerous young people.

Dan was a long-time member of St. John's Catholic Church and a charter member of the first Biwabik Lion's Club. His interests included hunting, fishing, woodworking, early morning coffee with friends, and spending time at his Lake Vermilion cabin with family.

A Celebration of Life mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia, MN, on Sat, Sept 7th at 11am with Visitation at 10am.

In lieu of flowers or monetary donations to the family, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Dan.