Fr. Daniel James Dahlberg

**For those who are unable to attend in person, Fr. Dan's celebration of life will be streamed live. Should you wish to attend the celebration remotely, the direct link will be: facebook.com/catholicdos Access to link will be available a few minutes before the service begins.

Fr. Daniel James “Dan” Dahlberg, 82, of Duluth, Minn., and formerly of Superior, Wis., passed away peacefully on March 5, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community Duluth. He was born in Superior on July 25, 1942, to a first-generation Slovak immigrant mother, Helen Sitek, and a second-generation Swedish immigrant father, Martin Dahlberg.

Fr. Dan attended Saint Patrick Catholic School and graduated from Superior Cathedral High School in 1959. He attended two years at Saint John’s University (Collegeville, Minn.), and received a B.A. in philosophy from Holy Cross Seminary (La Crosse, Wis.) in 1963, and an M.A. in theology from Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.) in 1967, where he fully embraced the spirit of those times that included Pope John XXIII, Vatican II, President Kennedy, and the Civil Rights Movement.

He was ordained on May 27, 1967, and served as a parish priest for 58 years, mostly throughout the Diocese of Superior, and later in the Diocese of Duluth. He completed graduate studies in Canon Law at Catholic University of America in 1985, and studies during his sabbatical at the American College Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) in 1993. He was a Fourth Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus.

Fr. Dan was well-read and loved classical music, movies, symphonies, reading, cards, and dancing. His heart was Irish — and he had the Irish gift of gab and humor and made several trips to Ireland. He also loved the Green Bay Packers and enjoyed traveling, bowling, and golfing — especially during the “good ‘ole days” with his friends Rev. Msgr. Philip Heslin and Bill Downs, Jr. Fr. Dan always remembered and was grateful to those who served others, especially acknowledging those who grew, prepared, and served meals (he loved to eat).

He is survived by his brother Gerald and Marilyn Dahlberg, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Thomas Dahlberg (Feb. 17, 2025), and his sister-in-law Kathleen Dahlberg (Aug. 11, 2024).

The family is grateful for the care, compassion, love, and hospitality shown to Fr. Dan by the Duluth Benedictine sisters of the St. Scholastica Monastery; the third-floor nurses and staff at BLCD; Matt Sundby and the Essentia Health Hospice Care team; Jody Tetzlaff; and Bishops Daniel Felton and James Powers.

Join us on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate Fr. Dan’s life at Cathedral of Christ the King (1410 Baxter Ave., Superior) on Sun., March 16 for visitation from 3-6 pm (prayer service at 5:30 pm) and on Mon., March 17 for visitation from 9-11 am prior to a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. Lunch immediately follows at the Cathedral, with burial at Calvary Cemetery Superior.

Memorials can be made to St. Scholastica Monastery (1001 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, Minn., 55811), Cathedral of Christ the King (1410 Baxter Ave., Superior, Wis., 54880), Duluth Salvation Army (215 S. 27th Ave. W., Duluth, Minn., 55806), or Chum (102 W. Second St., Duluth, Minn., 55802).

Funeral arrangements by Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. Fifth St., Superior, Wis., 54880. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.