Gwendolyn Ann Kurvers (Leppioja)

life story

Beloved Mother, Grandma, Sister, Aunt and Friend....

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Ann Kurvers (Leppioja), Age 73, of Vadnais Heights, MN passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park, MN after a far too short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Gwen was born on October 11, 1951 in Carlton, MN to Ilmer and Louise Leppioja. She grew up in Esko, MN and attended Esko high school, graduating in 1969. Gwen raised her children Jody and Jason in Duluth, MN where she worked at Sears and Ben Sundland Company. She then managed J.S. Meier and Punchinello clothing stores before she became the manager of the newly renovated Fitger’s Brewery Mall in 1985. She loved her time at Fitger’s and made many friends along the way. Gwen moved to Burnsville in 1987 and met her soul mate, David Kurvers in 1989. They married in Las Vegas shortly after. Gwen continued to work in property management and was owner of her own company G Kurvers Real Estate. After deciding to close that business, she worked for Asset Marketing Services, Designer’s Guild, Holiday, Wrecker Services and eventually National Camera Exchange before retiring in 2020.

Gwen is survived by her children Jody (Alan) Cassell of Centerville, MN and Jason Holmes of Maple, WI; grandchildren Destiny Holmes, Serenity Holmes, Samantha Cassell, and Allison (Sean) Bundy; sister Joyce Jablonski, brothers James (Dana) Leppioja and Kevin Leppioja; David's children Amy and Jason Kurvers and their children; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Barb Nynas, husband David Kurvers and her sweet dog Minni.

A celebration of life gathering will be held in her honor on Saturday May 31st at Black Woods Event Center in Proctor. Details below. Gwen loved collecting angels and on April 2nd she became one.

memorial service

Celebration of Life Gathering

May 31, 2025

AmericInn by Wyndham Duluth South Black Woods Event Center 185 US-2, Proctor, MN 55810, USA

Please gather with us on Saturday May 31st from 1:00pm to 4:00pm to celebrate Gwen's life. There will be a brief service by Pastor Christie Manisto (Gwen's niece) around 2:00pm. Let's share stories, look at pictures and enjoy some appetizers in honor of Gwen!