Joanne Von Blon, who fueled Minnesota's arts scene, dies at 100

Married to Philip Von Blon, who helped found the Guthrie Theater, she had her own passions, writing book reviews and serving on literary boards.

Former Gophers, NFL player, pro wrestler Bob Bruggers dead at 80

A high school standout at Danube and a two-way player with the Gophers, Bob Bruggers played six seasons of pro football before becoming a wrestler.

Sean Burroughs, former MLB player, Little League World Series and Olympic champion, dies at 43

Sean Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43.

Steve Albini, influential producer of '90s rock and beyond, dies at 61

He recorded acclaimed albums by Nirvana, PJ Harvey, the Pixies and hundreds of others while becoming an outspoken critic of the music industry.

Frank Stella, towering artist and master of reinvention, dies at 87

Stella was a dominant figure in postwar American art, closing the door on abstract expressionism and pointing the way to cool minimalism.

Sharon Lubinski, first openly gay U.S. marshal and longtime MPD leader, dies at 71

Lubinski came out in 1993 and later became one of the highest serving women in law enforcement nationwide.

Whitey Herzog, who managed Cardinals vs. Twins in 1987 World Series, dies

The Hall of Fame manager led the St. Louis Cardinals to three National League pennants and one World Series title in the 1980s.

Official who helped MSHSL on pioneering ventures dies at 89

As an associate director, John Bartz helped the league start state tournaments in girls hockey and adapted sports.

Former 'KQRS Morning Show' prankster Lee Siegfried, aka Crazy Cabbie, dies at 55

He was behind a fake Brett Favre story that made national news.

Richard Serra, who recast sculpture on a massive scale, dies at 85

Many people in the art world urged Serra to stop making sculpture after a rigger was crushed to death in 1975 when one plate of a piece being installed at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis accidentally came loose.

St. Paul guitarist Billy Larson, 'a Kmart Keith Richards,' dies of brain cancer

The proud St. Paul East Sider was co-founder of the Minnesota Music Café.

William Whitworth, revered writer and editor, is dead at 87

Among Whitworth's accomplishments: After Garrison Keillor wrote an article for The New Yorker about the Grand Ole Opry, "he pushed me to do a Saturday night variety show myself, patterned on the Opry, which led to 'A Prairie Home Companion,' " Keillor said.

From Mumbai to Minnesota, Srimati Neenaben Gada shared her native Indian culture

Arriving as an immigrant in her 20s, Neena Gada helped create a home for Indian culture in Minnesota.

David Leventhal, who led Cecil's Deli in St. Paul for more than four decades, dies at 85

Leventhal and his wife, Sheila, owned and operated the Highland Park institution and ensured the family business would pass to his children and grandchildren.

Joe Madison, radio host who merged talk format and activism, dies at 74

Lorraine Blumenfeld Hertz, who stayed positive through WWII, Alzheimer's, dies at age 100

The former teacher died last month in St. Paul.

Remembering Jon Pankake: A Grammy-winning folk scholar and early critic of Bob Dylan

His job was advising University of Minnesota students, but he gave Dylan unsolicited advice.