Dakota Caleb Koski, 37, passed away on September 24, 2026.

Dakota was born January 12, 1989, in Cloquet, MN to Greg and Melanie Koski. He grew up in Cloquet and attended Cloquet High School. After high school, he went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

One of the most impactful parts of Dakota’s life was his devotion to the youth in our community. As Executive Director of REACH, Dakota was a source of encouragement, guidance, and support to so many deserving young people, and he cared for them with immense devotion and pride. The lives he touched through his work at REACH will forever be part of his legacy.

Outside of his work and community involvement, Dakota found happiness in the outdoors and in the simple moments that made life meaningful. He enjoyed golfing, being at the lake, supporting Wilderness Hockey, hunting at the family hunting shack, going four-wheeling, and hanging out with his dog, Jax. He had a gift for bringing people together over a game of Carbles or Smear, a game he taught nearly half the town how to play. He especially treasured the time he spent with his family each summer at Clubhouse Lake Campground, a tradition that began when he was just a kid. Clubhouse was a special place for Dakota where memories were made year after year with the people he cared about most.

To Dakota, family was not simply defined by blood, but by love, loyalty, and always being there for one another. Although Dakota never had children of his own, he devoted a significant part of his life to caring for and helping raise Matthew and Weston. He was a constant source of love, encouragement, guidance, and support in their lives, and he took great pride in the young men they were becoming. His commitment to their well-being showed in the countless ways he made them a priority in his life.

Dakota was a man of faith, which was evident in the way he cared for others. He welcomed people into his life, loved them deeply, and showed how much they meant to him by always being there for them, in ways both big and small.

Dakota is preceded in death by his father, Gregory Koski, along with his maternal grandparents, Clayton and Rosemary Langley, and paternal grandparents, Orville and Judith Koski.

He will be deeply missed by his mother, Melanie Koski; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; his friends, colleagues, the young people he mentored, and the many members of the Cloquet community who were fortunate enough to know him.

Details regarding a service in Dakota’s honor will come at a later date.