Obituary of Irene Gigliotti

Irene Kremple Gigliotti of Superior passed away at Solvay Hospice House on Saturday, July 24, 2021. 

She was born in Superior May 22, 1928, the youngest of eight children of Raymond and Gertrude Wirtzfeld Kremple. She attended the Billings School in the town of Superior and graduated from Superior Cathedral High School in 1945 and the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1949.

Also in 1949, Irene married her college classmate Orlando “Lon” Gigliotti of Gilbert, MN. While Lon taught for four years, the couple lived in Grand Rapids, MN and Glidden, WI. Then they had an opportunity to teach in the same school in Gonvik, MN. Three years later, a similar situation arose near Duluth. They began teaching in Wrenshall in 1952 and remained there until 1983, when they retired due to Lon’s failing health.

DFL political activity was an important part of Irene’s life. It began with the DFL club in college and included campaigning in Govik for Caya Knutson, Minnesota’s first woman in Congress. Back in Duluth, she served on many campaign committees. She was chosen to be a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1980 and again in 1988.

Irene was also a lifelong member of the Education Minnesota and National Education Association. Her other interests in the Duluth years centered on the activities of their three boys, Cub Scouting, teaching religious education classes at St. Elizabeth Church, and supporting the boys’ sports activities. The family also made many summer camping trips around the US and Canada for fishing, visiting family and friends, and stopping at many sites of historical or literary interest. 

After Lon’s death in 1987, Irene moved back to Superior to an apartment created for her in Dan’s home. In her new home, she was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church and volunteered at the Superior Boys and Girls Club and the Richard I Bong Veterans Center.

In addition to her husband, Irene is preceded in death by her grandson Anthony “Tony G” Gigliotti and all her siblings: Clara Anderson, Angela Kremple, Wilma McDonald Nelson, Frederick, William, George and Robert Kremple and all their spouses except for Fred’s widow, Patricia Carver Kremple, who turned 100 in April 2021.

Irene is survived by her sons, Roland (Margo), Bill (Lynn), and Dan (Sue) Gigliotti; eight grandchildren Ryan (Brenda) Gigliotti, Melissa (Dennis) Olson, Marnie (Matt) Blundell, Casey (Andy) Hallin, Jenna (Scott) Gates, Nicholas (Jennifer) Gigliotti, Joseph (Cassie Gidley) Gigliotti, and Kaitlyn (Mike) Beauto; thirteen great-grandchildren, Olivia and Joseph R Gigliotti, Jack and Samantha Olson, Luke Blundell, Sawyer and Owen Hallin, Liam Gates, Farrah, Roman and Joella Gigliotti, and Mikey and Rylee Beauto. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Solvay Hospice for the excellent care she received while she was there. 

A memorial service for Irene will be held on August 7th at 10am with a visitation an hour prior at the Cremation Society of Minnesota- Duluth Chapel, 4100 Grand Avenue. A reception will follow the service.