Bemidji Carpenter Clair Gizmo Depew Dies at 81

Clair Jerome Gizmo Depew, born August 31, 1944, died December 26, 2025. Depew spent much of his working life as a lumberjack and carpenter, holding a variety of jobs across the Northwest before moving back to Bemidji later in life. He is survived by his daughter Debra Ann and other family members.

Depew's career reflects a mid century trajectory familiar in northern Minnesota, where timber and trades related to building have shaped local employment and community identity. Residents who knew him will recognize his skills in both forest work and carpentry, trades that provide practical services and informal apprenticeship networks in small towns across Beltrami County. The passing of craftsmen from Depew's generation highlights an ongoing transition in the local labor force, as older skilled workers retire and younger residents confront a mix of opportunity and constraints in timber harvesting and construction.

Beyond the personal loss for family and friends, Depew's death is a reminder of how changes in industry structure, technology, and demographic patterns affect rural communities. Timber remains an economic element in Minnesota's north, and carpentry work underpins local housing maintenance and small contractor activity. The loss of experienced hands can complicate efforts by homeowners and small businesses to secure reliable, locally based labor, and it underscores the value of training and retention policies that support trades work in the region.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service. The funeral home is coordinating services and family notifications. Community members who knew Depew or worked with him in the woods and on job sites may contact the funeral service for details about memorial arrangements.

Depew's life, spanning multiple moves across the Northwest and a return to Bemidji, is part of the county's living history of work and family. For many local residents his story will resonate as an example of the skilled labor that built and continues to maintain homes, businesses, and the rural landscape of Beltrami County.