Jerome "Jerry" Kurpius

A Celebration of Life for Jerome Louis “Jerry” Kurpius, 91, of Hoyt Lakes, will be 2pm Saturday, November 1, 2025 at the Hoyt Lakes VFW Post. A private family burial will be held in the Hoyt Lakes Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.

Jerry died Monday, October 13, 2025 at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota.

Jerry was born at home on January 22, 1934 in Staples, Minnesota to John and Frances (Puhalla) Kurpius. He was a 1953 graduate of Felton High School and was drafted into the US Army, serving in Alaska.

On January 18, 1958 he married Doris Yeager in Moorhead, Minnesota. That same year the couple moved to Hoyt Lakes where Jerry worked for Erie Mining Company. In the early 1970’s Jerry established Kurpius Electric and owned and operated the business working as an electrician on the Iron Range for many years.

He was active in his community; serving as a board member of the Hoyt Lakes Credit Union, teaching gun safety training classes, coaching youth hockey and was a hockey referee.

Jerry especially enjoyed hunting and fishing in the outdoors.

He is survived by his son, Craig (Karmen) Kurpius of Red Wing; daughter, Shelley Boutain of Otsego; grandchildren: Daniel (Jennifer) Boutain and Troy (Erika) Boutain; great grandchildren: Joseph Boutain and Raymond Boutain; sister, Barbara (Jim) Rehder; several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Frances; wife, Doris Kurpius; step father, Kermit Meinecke; siblings: Lawrence Kurpius and LaVerne Hunsaker.