Gregory Paul LaVelle

Gregory Paul LaVelle August 15, 1939 - May 10th, 2026 Greg LaVelle was known for telling stories and making people laugh. He loved golfing with his wife Dianne and his other favorite people. He was a supporter of University of Minnesota Gopher football as a season ticket holder, tailgating, and listening to and attending games for many years. He also loved spending time in the Brainerd Lakes area, where he and Dianne and their family vacationed and eventually bought a home and retired. Greg grew up in Lakeville, MN where his family owned a mercantile. As the youngest child of Thomas and Claire, Greg delivered groceries by wagon, and he would get the biggest tips. His family later moved to north Minneapolis, where he attended North High School. After graduation, he joined the army and later set pins and bartended at Howie's bar. He began selling shoes at Donaldson's in downtown Minneapolis, which propelled him to open Air Step shoe store in Northtown Mall, which later became Gregory's shoes. Greg married Dianne in 1963. Their first house was in Crystal, Minnesota and they later moved to New Hope. They adopted Nancy in 1966, and Greg was born in 1967. Anthony was born in 1969 and Brook arrived in 1978. Greg enjoyed making fast pinewood derby cars and other Cub Scout events with the boys, playing basketball in the park behind their New Hope home with the kids, and eventually taking up golf, which became a family event at the New Hope par 3 course and beyond. The love of golf never ended and was enjoyed throughout his life. Greg and Dianne spent lots of time golfing together. He talked fondly about his job at Maddens as a golf starter, after he retired, and he could golf for free. Gregory Paul LaVelle, of East Gull Lake, died Sunday May 10th, 2026. Preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Claire (Wannarka) LaVelle, brothers Thomas and Dean, and sister Marilyn (Wermerskirchen), and son in law Steven Quast, and brother in laws Paul and Ralph Wermerskirchen. Survived by wife Dianne, and 4 children, Nancy (Steven) Quast, Gregory, Anthony, and Brook (Courtney) along with 6 granddaughters Sydney and Samantha LaVelle, Carly and Claire Quast, Lucille and Greta LaVelle, and sister Myrna (Ralph) Wermerskirchen. A memorial service will be held Saturday June 27th at Washburn-McReavy Glen Haven Funeral Chapel at 5125 W. Broadway in Crystal, Minnesota with a 10:00 visitation and 11:00 service with lunch to follow.

Gregory Paul LaVelle

August 15, 1939 - May 10, 2026

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