Judith Virginia (Drewry) Gunelius

Judith Gunelius 1939 – 2025

Judith Virginia Drewry Gunelius age 85 passed away July 25, 2025 peacefully at the Bigfork Valley Hospital. Judy was born in St. Paul, MN on September 10, 1939. She was the oldest of six children and graduated from North St. Paul High School in 1957.

Judy enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps in 1958 and trained as a medical specialist serving in WM Beaumont Hospital in El Paso TX until 1960. She entered the civilian workforce at the Minneapolis VA hospital while singing four nights a week with Jack White’s band at the Tradewinds nightclub. She met and married Farrell, an airman who was stationed at Osceola AFS, WI. Judy was busy as an Air Force wife working as a nurse and other jobs while raising their four children. Laurie Jo, Scott, Thallassa and Kerrick. In 1971, Judy joined the MN Air National Guard as the first enlisted woman assigned the 109th Air Evacuation Unit flying aboard C-130 aircraft. She later served as a recruiter for several years.

She is fondly remembered by generations as the “neighborhood mom” in Mahtomedi and beyond for her compassion and care she provided to all. She also gave meaning to the phrase “your mother wears combat boots.”

When they retired and the children were grown, they rented their house and bought their beloved sailboat Pickpocket which carried them safely through numerous adventures in the Bahamas and the Atlantic from Florida to New York.

Love of the outdoors and water led to the next adventure and home on the river in Bigfork MN. Judy and Farrell loved the community and its residents. As a life member of the VFW and American Legion Judy served for decades as an honor guard member, bugler and dedicated numerous hours for parades, school sports events and other community activities.

She loved her flowers and enjoyed many hours of feeding, watering and nurturing her plants much like she did with all the relationships and people she touched throughout her amazing life.

Visitation will be on August 16th at 10 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Bigfork. The service and military honors will follow at 1100.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be sent to Bigfork Valley Community Foundation.

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