John Joseph "Guba" Gobats, age 65 of Lake Vermilion – Tower died Monday, August 6, 2012 in the St. Mary's Medical Center Hospice in Duluth. He was born March 24th, 1947 in the Virginia Municipal Hospital the son of Joseph George and Delores Mae (Rossi) Gobats. John attended Washington School for 2 grades, Marquette School through the 8th grade and graduated from Virginia High School in 1965. From the time John was 9, he worked for Nicks Wood Products which his uncle Nicholas Gobats owned. He also worked one summer for Al Johnson Construction Company building Minntac. After high school, he attended 2 years at Mesabi State College and graduated from Control Data Institute in Minneapolis, where he then worked for 26 years. He moved to his cabin on Lake Vermilion at age 46 and started a new life and a new career. John founded a computer sales, service, and consulting business called Rangenet Computer Services. In January 1996, he founded and opened the very first locally owned internet service, Rangenet Internet Services, Inc. John was the CEO of Rangenet until his death. He continued his education while working, taking night courses until 1982 when "Enough was Enough". John also managed Ciceros Pizza in St. Paul, was part owner of Inland Sails (Manufacturer of sails for sail boats). He and his business partner, Leon, also had an auctioneering company. John was a member of the Northern Club, Conservationists With Common Sense (CWCS), sat on the board of Responsible Advocates of the Vermilion Environment (RAVE), Mesabi State College Alumni, Minnesota Public Radio, National Rifle Association and a past member of the Italian American Club. John married Kathleen Rae Dargan in 1968. Together they had 3 children. They were later divorced and in 2011, he married Shelley K. (Lustila) Gobats.
John is survived by his wife: Shelley; sister: Barbara (George) Ramondo; children: Nichole Kathleen (Jason) Lamotte, Ryan Carter (Cynthia) Gobats, and Joel Dargan (Heidi) Gobats; step-children: Brock & Courtney Kovatovich; grandchildren: Kelley Gobats, Kaitlyn Gobats, Tony Gobats, Madison Lamotte, Tanner Lamotte, Joseph Gobats and Hailey Gobats; nieces and nephews, a host of friends, and his beloved little dog: Art.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father: John Sutkaitis; step-mother: Mildred (Soderberg) Gobats; grandparents, aunts & uncles.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 10, 2012 in Bauman-Vermilion Funeral Chapel in Tower. Bill Bauman will officiate.
Family services are provided by Bauman-Vermilion, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Tower. To express condolences on-line please see www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Born: March 24, 1947 Place of Birth: Virginia, MN Death: August 6, 2012 Place of Death: Duluth, MN Occupation: Owner of Rangenet Internet Services Organizations: Northern Club, Conservationists With Common Sense (CWCS), sat on the board of Responsible Advocates of the Vermilion Environment (RAVE), Mesabi State College Alumni, Minnesota Public Radio, National Rifle Association and a past member of the Italian Americ Celebration of Life Service Friday August 10, 2012 , 10:00 a.m. at Bauman's Vermilion Funeral Home
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