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Silent Auction for Cluey

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Cluey

Bradley Alan TeGantvoort, age 60, of Inver Grove Heights, MN, passed away unexpectedly on December 8, 2025. He was comforted in his final moments by his partner in life and love, Jana Armstead.

Born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1965, Brad was the first child of Carol (Tomsich) and Larry TeGantvoort. He grew up in Cottage Grove, where he forged lifelong friendships and created the cherished memories that his family and friends will hold close forever. The Clue Master, Brad had a big heart and a deep love for the people in his life. His passions were many and legendary among his friends and family.

Brad always had a special love for skyscrapers, he could instantly tell you the name, country, and height of structures from all over the world. As we say goodbye, we like to imagine him standing tall above, watching over all the people he loved.

A loyal Minnesota Vikings fan, Brad had a profound love for the Minnesota Vikings and rarely missed a game, cheering on his team with passionate dedication every season. He enjoyed disc golfing throughout his entire life and going to concerts, soaking in the energy and the music around him.

Affectionately known as our “Clue Master or “Cluey,” he loved treasure hunting, especially participating in the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt every year. His charismatic presence and all-encompassing nature were key to the many deep, lifelong friendships he cultivated.

Brad is survived by his fiancée & love, Jana Armstead; his daughter, Alicia TeGantvoort; and his father, Larry (Susie) TeGantvoort. He will be dearly missed by his siblings: Kurtis (Jill) TeGantvoort, Kevin (Sheri) TeGantvoort, and Kari “Sis” (John) Knodle; his uncles, Louis “Butch” Tomsich (Linda) and Jack Tomsich; as well as numerous extended family members and special friends.

Brad was preceded in death by his wife, Amy; his mother, Carol TeGantvoort; his great-grandparents, Christine “Tini” and Louis “Cedar” Tomsich; and his aunt, Sue Tomsich.

A celebration of Brad’s incredible journey will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S., Cottage Grove, MN with a visitation from 2:00-4:00 PM. All are invited to a luncheon following the service at the funeral home and after that, friends and family will be gathering at the Park Place Sports Bar, 200 Broadway Ave.; St. Paul Park, MN.

The family encourages all attendees to come & share their favorite “Clue Master Brad” stories. Please honor his passions by wearing your Minnesota Vikings or favorite concert t-shirt!

A Silent Auction will also be held on Saturday, December 20th, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Carbone’s, 7155 Jorgensen Ln. S., Cottage Grove.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to help the family with expenses via Paypal: @me2minnesota or Venmo: @jminnesota

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in the service via livestream, you can watch the service by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click “PLAY" to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having trouble with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.

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Cluey's Celebration of Life

Submitted by ares on
-
Cluey

Bradley Alan TeGantvoort, age 60, of Inver Grove Heights, MN, passed away unexpectedly on December 8, 2025. He was comforted in his final moments by his partner in life and love, Jana Armstead.

Born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1965, Brad was the first child of Carol (Tomsich) and Larry TeGantvoort. He grew up in Cottage Grove, where he forged lifelong friendships and created the cherished memories that his family and friends will hold close forever. The Clue Master, Brad had a big heart and a deep love for the people in his life. His passions were many and legendary among his friends and family.

Brad always had a special love for skyscrapers, he could instantly tell you the name, country, and height of structures from all over the world. As we say goodbye, we like to imagine him standing tall above, watching over all the people he loved.

A loyal Minnesota Vikings fan, Brad had a profound love for the Minnesota Vikings and rarely missed a game, cheering on his team with passionate dedication every season. He enjoyed disc golfing throughout his entire life and going to concerts, soaking in the energy and the music around him.

Affectionately known as our “Clue Master or “Cluey,” he loved treasure hunting, especially participating in the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt every year. His charismatic presence and all-encompassing nature were key to the many deep, lifelong friendships he cultivated.

Brad is survived by his fiancée & love, Jana Armstead; his daughter, Alicia TeGantvoort; and his father, Larry (Susie) TeGantvoort. He will be dearly missed by his siblings: Kurtis (Jill) TeGantvoort, Kevin (Sheri) TeGantvoort, and Kari “Sis” (John) Knodle; his uncles, Louis “Butch” Tomsich (Linda) and Jack Tomsich; as well as numerous extended family members and special friends.

Brad was preceded in death by his wife, Amy; his mother, Carol TeGantvoort; his great-grandparents, Christine “Tini” and Louis “Cedar” Tomsich; and his aunt, Sue Tomsich.

A celebration of Brad’s incredible journey will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th Street S., Cottage Grove, MN with a visitation from 2:00-4:00 PM. All are invited to a luncheon following the service at the funeral home and after that, friends and family will be gathering at the Park Place Sports Bar, 200 Broadway Ave.; St. Paul Park, MN.

The family encourages all attendees to come & share their favorite “Clue Master Brad” stories. Please honor his passions by wearing your Minnesota Vikings or favorite concert t-shirt!

A Silent Auction will also be held on Saturday, December 20th, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Carbone’s, 7155 Jorgensen Ln. S., Cottage Grove.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to help the family with expenses via Paypal: @me2minnesota or Venmo: @jminnesota

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in the service via livestream, you can watch the service by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click “PLAY" to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having trouble with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.

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Obituary: Brad ‘Cluey’ TeGantvoort, 60, found love in the Pioneer Press medallion hunt

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To help support expenses, family friends are hosting a silent auction Saturday, Dec. 20, at Carbone’s in Cottage Grove, with items including a replica
STP-L-TEGANTVOORTOBIT-02.webp, Brad TeGantvoort, known to friends as “Cluey,” holds up a wasp nest that does not contain a hidden medallion during the Pioneer Press treasure hunt on
By JARED KAUFMAN | jkaufman@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer PressThe first time Brad TeGantvoort and Jana Armstead got engaged was at the State Capitol.Jan

Why is the site draped in black?

Submitted by ares on
Cluey

It's a sad day today. Once upon a time that was the name of one of our Water Cooler threads (you can only see it if you're logged in to the site). We used it when we had to talk about things to do for someone in the group when they lost someone close to them.

Today, though, absolutely sucks, and is a very sad day indeed.

If you ever participated in the park pick pool, you knew him. If you ever came to a Pre-Dig Gig, you walked past him at the front door (unless you came in at the far end of Joseph's banquet room, and consequently missed out meeting a hell of a guy). If you ever got a bump out in the park at 2am, you met him. Heck if you were ever out in a prk hunting, you probably met him.

He is the reason the site is draped in black today.

On Monday morning, we lost Clue Master.

I'm beyond broken over it. To say Me2 is beyond broken is an understatement. The man was one of my best friends in the world. I've been contemplating for the last several months what I'd say when they got married. It'll be a funeral speech now instead.

It was a call we all knew would come one day. Realistically, we all know that call will come for ourselves some day. Monday was not supposed to be that day. That day wasn't supposed to happen for many many years.

Here we are though. He had so much life ahead of him. We were gearing up for January's treasure hunt. He never missed one. We would get his scooter loaded up into someone's vehicle and head on out to a park, and unload it when we got there. He had the easiest time of all of us on his "four wheel drive" scooter.

Man, for someone who was so well loved, and who loved everybody, for someone who I have so many great memories with, you'd think writing something like this would be easy. It isn't.

There isn't anything about this that even resembles easy, and as much as I want to, I just can't.

That said, its also hard on the family. Cluey didn't have any life insurance, and funerals aren't in the least cheap. As a result, we have a Go Fund Me set up to collect donations to help pay for his final expenses. Click here if you're able to donate anything. There will also be a silent auction fundraiser coming soon as well. I'll post details here about it and a funeral when they're finalized.

St. Paul’s Art Blakey, longserving State Fair police chief and pioneering sheriff’s deputy, dies at 83

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artblakey.webp, In an Aug. 10, 2017 photo, Art Blakey, chief of police for the Minnesota State Fair, walks the fairgrounds in 2017. For two weeks at the end of every
By DEANNA WENIGER | Pioneer PressArt Blakey Jr. lived the last few days of his life as he’d lived most every day of his 83 years: surrounded by commun
dsc_64631.webp, Art Blakey Jr. gathers with his family — including his 9-year-old granddaughter, Braylyne Blakey, whom he has his arm around, and wife, Carolyn Carrol
“We were experiencing a lot of gang issues, drug issues,” he said. “Art was very instrumental in helping us get jackets to identify us. He was county

Barbara Olson, 81

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BarbaraOlson1.webp, BarbaraOlson2.webp
Jill SmithOct. 4, 2017Barbara Ellen Olson, 81, of Litchfield passed away Thursday, Oct. 4, 2017, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud after a short

Mahtomedi woman, a former Klondike Kate,… NEWS Mahtomedi woman, a former Klondike Kate, brought joy as a professional clown

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celeste-gagliardi-i.webp, Celeste Gagliardi, 68 of Mathtomedi, performed as a clown and entertainer for 34 years, with a career highlight coming with a 1990 performance at the
By WILL ASHENMACHER | Pioneer PressCeleste Gagliardi spent her days in living color.Since 1983, the Mahtomedi woman worked as a professional clown, pe

Mark Evenson -- Father, Husband, Treasure Hunter

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Mark, Nicole, and Kaitlynn. Photo courtesy of Sajous Photography

Mark, Nicole, and Kaitlynn. Photo courtesy of Sajous Photography

The Cooler Crew lost another treasure hunter yesterday morning. Mark Evenson, husband of Mystical_Muzik (AKA Nicole), passed away suddenly, and unexpectedly the morning of January 4, 2010 at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood. Mark had no known health issues.

A fund has been set up with Wells Fargo to help the family cover their expenses during this tragic event. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank branch to the Mark Evenson Memorial Fund.

There will be a visitation from 4-8pm on Thursday, January 7 at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 N. Arcade St. in St. Paul. The funeral will be held at Gustavus Adolphus at 10am Friday morning, January 8.

Stay tuned here and in The Situation Room at the Cooler Crew Discussion Boards for more information and how you can help. On top of this, Nicole's father (see below) is still in the Intensive Care Unit at Regions Hospital after being shot during a robbery.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents and son Charles, and is survived by his wife, Nicole, their daughter, Kaitlynn, and many family and friends. Mark was 28.

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