Funeral services for Juel Gary Kopperud, age 79, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, Hartland, MN. Rev. Mark Hillmer will officiate. Interment will be at the Hartland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by local servicemen’s organizations, VFW and American Legion. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, April 13 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Juel died Friday, April 10, 2015 at the New Richland Care Center.  

Juel Gary Kopperud was born February 16, 1936 in Albert Lea to Juel and Irene (Lewis) Kopperud. He was raised in Hartland and graduated from New Richland High School in 1954. After graduation Juel served his country in the United States Army where he was a helicopter crew chief. He then worked as a ditch digger for Tukua drainage. On October 24, 1964 Juel was united in marriage to Marvyl Baldwin at West Freeborn Lutheran Church. Juel furthered his education at Mankato State College and earned a bachelor’s degree in teaching. He taught at Arlington-Green Isle for nine years. Juel and Marvyl then made their home in Hartland. He worked for Brown Printing in facilities maintenance. Juel was a lifelong member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing card and telling jokes. Most of all he enjoyed time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren. 

Survivors include his wife of fifty years, Marvyl; children Ellen (Randy) Jensen, Mark (Cathy) Kopperud, and Lynn Reese; grandchildren Karen (Brett) Cully, Kayla Wobbrock, Brianna Reese, Brandon Reese, Bryant Reese, Kollin Reese, Joshua (Sarah) Jensen, Jacob Jensen, and Jenna Jensen; great-grandchildren Autumn, Aubrey, Jason, Julieann, Jessa, and Claira; sisters Elaine Johnson and Louise (Donald) Johnson; sister-in-law Darlene Stensrud; brother-in-law Dale (Dorothy) Baldwin; and nieces and nephews.

Juel was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Walter Johnson, niece Cheryl Gauss, a nephew in infancy, and a great-nephew John Hellie.