Mary Lou Zupancich, age 88 of Soudan, Minnesota, passed away on August 16, 2026. She was born on March 29, 1938, in Soudan to Frank G. Planton and Angela (Yapel) Planton. She graduated from Tower High School in 1956 where she served as a majorette in the marching band. After graduation, while working at Zup’s grocery store, Mary Lou met the love of her life, Happy Joe. On July 9, 1960, the two were married at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower.

Mary Lou retired from the grocery business so that she could devote herself to raising their five children, a role she embraced with love, energy, and deep pride. Mary Lou was devoted to her Christian faith and a long-standing member of the St. Martin’s Catholic Church. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and tried to live every day according to His wishes. One of her greatest memories was receiving the honor to sing at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI.

Mary Lou’s greatest joy was raising her children and spending time with her grandchildren. Her top priority was making sure everyone was fed and that no one left her home without a full belly and a container of leftovers. She loved to cook and bake, and she mastered the art of making Slovenian potica, taught to her by her mother. Potica was a favorite family treat that she turned into a small business selling to customers from all over the country.

In her earlier years, she enjoyed spending time at the lake on Eagles Nest. She could often be seen driving her wood-paneled station wagon full of kids, food and swimming gear. She loved the water and the sun. Mary Lou was a skilled seamstress, often making clothing and Halloween costumes, and tailoring clothes for family and friends. She had an artful eye for designing handcrafted jewelry selling her creations at the Ely Blueberry Arts Festival and the Soudan Mine gift shop. Mary Lou loved to garden and plant flowers in her expansive flower garden around her home.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Joseph Zupancich, parents, Frank and Angela Planton, brothers, Frank and Ray Planton and her sister-in-law, Zoe Planton.

Mary Lou is survived by her children Mary Jo Threinen, Angie (Carl) Enroth, Joseph (Tracy) Zupancich III, Steven (Renee) Zupancich, Christine (Kraig) Larson; eleven grandchildren, Katrina (Joe), Christopher (Samantha), Kimberly (Ben), Nicholas (Stormie), Jacqualine (Adam), Victoria, Elizabeth (Joshua), Matthew, Madeline (Drew), Aaron, and Evan; and eight great-grandchildren, Annalisa, Eliana, Lillian, Chloe, Owen, Emilia, Zoe and Margaret.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower at 11:00 with a visitation one hour prior to the service, luncheon to follow in the parish hall. A very special thank you to the staff at the Boundary Waters Care Center and the Essentia Health East Range Hospice team for providing exceptional care and compassion.