Gregory Vangen

Funeral Services for Gregory James Vangen, of Hopkins, formerly of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. The Reverend Diane Odermann will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday and one hour before the service at the funeral home. Greg was born on July 28, 1960 at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea to James Vangen and Rosemary (Bakken) Vangen. He was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He graduated from Albert Lea School with the class of 1978. Greg was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 10, but was active in sports while he was young, playing baseball and hockey and in high school, continued to play hockey as well as football.
Gregs love for sports stayed with him throughout his whole life watching the Twins, Vikings, and Minnesota Wild. He went to school for ice arena management and worked for the ice arena in Edina, MN for more than 30 years and most recently had been at the Blake School Arena in Hopkins. Greg died at his home in Hopkins on Sunday, October 4, 2015. He was 55.
He is survived by his mother Rosemary of Albert Lea, brother Brad (Nancy) Vangen of Columbus, OH, sister Gayle (John) Jurik of Phoenix, AZ; two nephews Lars and Nels Vangen of Columbus, OH, one niece Annika Jurik of Phoenix, AZ, and many relatives and friends
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Greg will be remembered for his keen sense of humor and the enjoyment he got from great conversation.