David Gilbert Kurzweg

David Gilbert Kurzweg, Sr. Age 84 of White Bear Lake Passed Away on November 24, 2015 David was born in St. Paul on June 20, 1931, to Mary (nee Mann) and Harold Kurzweg. He attended White Bear Lake High School and graduated in 1949. In high school, he played the tuba in the band and he played on the basketball team. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US military. He was in the Navy Reserve for one year, the Air Force for one year, and finally the Air Force Reserve for six years. He met the love of his life, Janette Thoreson, while dancing in Wisconsin. The two were married on a Friday, April 13, 1956. They raised their children on Bald Eagle Lake in White Bear Lake. He worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (and later AT&T), retiring after 33 years. When he was not working, most of David’s time was spent outdoors. He was an avid golfer, hunter, and softball player. He enjoyed boogie boarding in the Pacific Ocean, snowmobiling, playing beach volleyball, anything with the outdoors. He even managed to find time to fish in Canada with his brothers-in-law, Jim and LeRoy. He was known to say “Nature is my cathedral and my cabin is my chapel.” He volunteered with the San Diego Reserve Sheriff Department, the White Bear Township Park Board (specifically developing the Tamarack Nature Center), and he was a coach for Peanut and Midget Baseball. David could watch any John Wayne movie over and over with a smile on his face. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his ability to know and talk to almost everyone from town, being a social man, having a fair coaching style, teaching his kids to do the right thing in life, and being a wonderful father and husband. A favorite saying was, “If you’re gonna play, you’re gonna pay.” David passed away after a long and courageous twelve year battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mary. He will be dearly missed by his wife of almost 60 years, Janette Kurzweg; his three sons, David (Renee) Kurzweg Jr., Paul (Christine) Kurzweg, and Richard (Brenda) Kurzweg; his 12 grandchildren, Sarah (David) House, Emily (Kendal) Bishop, Elizabeth Kurzweg, Erich (Molly) Kurzweg, Sonja Kurzweg, Dieter Kurzweg, Lynette (Justin) Stringfellow, Brittany (Blake) Turner, Ashley (Jeremy) Nordlund, Garrett Kurzweg, Tayler Kurzweg, and Madison; his 9 great-grandchildren; brother, Eugene (Joyce) Kurzweg; and many others in his large and loving family. David had a soft spot in his heart for the Salvation Army so the family is asking that any donations be made to the Salvation Army. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 2:00-4:00PM on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake, with a military honors ceremony at 4:00PM.