Jerome Leonard Vurnen

Vurnen Jerome Leonard Age 75 years, January 24, 2002. Beloved husband of Dorothy (nee Madvig). Dearest father of Matt (Heripsime) Leonard, Terri (Duane) Cox, Shawn (Rita Webster) Leonard, Christina (Steve) Schober, Martha (Mark) Matern, Nick (Laurence Roberts) Leonard, Adam (Jennifer) Leonard, Sara (Houston) Stuckey, Ben (Yvonne) Leonard, Toby (Ann) Leonard and Nora (Mark) Gottwalt. Beloved grandfather of Michelle and Kip Cox, Andrew Webster, Daniel and Caitlin Schober, Greg, Carrie, Ben, Dominic, Bridget and Peter Matern, Brandon Stuckey, Bearach and Patrick Leonard, and Elise Leonard. Loving brother of Marian Wukmir, Claire (Arnold) Peske, Grant Leonard and Richard (Eva) Leonard. Special nephew of Uncle Lou Walton. Preceded in death by parents, Richard and Juletta Leonard and brother, Thomas Leonard. Further survived by sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Memorial Gathering Monday at 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM Mass at the church of ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE, 2910 W. 44th St., Mpls. Burial Tues., 11:30 AM, FT. SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY. Vurnen was an active Parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle for 43 years. He was an active member in the community with many interests and activities: Minneapolis South High School Alumni, U of Kansas (ASTRP), U of Minnesota Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering, Newman Center Alumni, SMU Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 11th Armored Division (A56 ENG), Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts of America Leader, Prior Lake Yacht Club (sail regattas), 3M Chess Club Member, Ultra light airplane builder, American Mensa Ltd., Twin Cities Cursillo (32 years), ``Minn Grand Old Man of Citroen Cars'' Citroen Auto Club of America, Experimental Aircraft Assoc. Chapter 237, Oshkosh Air Show (26 plus years), Normandale College Faculty, Minn Air and Space Museum, Youth Hostel and Ironman Bicycle Enthusiast, Christian, engineer, inventor, private pilot. Career included 3M, Honeywell and private consulting. Two 3M Circle of Technical Excellence Team Awards, 11 US Patents. If so desired, memorials to Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, 2910 W. 44th Street, Mpls, MN 55410, or HealthEast Hospice, 69 W. Exchange St., St. Paul, MN 55102, would be appreciated.

Published on January 27, 2002