Jessica Worrell and Donny VanGundy are part of the trend. After datingf or four years, they rented an apartment together last August inSomerse t, Wis.,just across the border from Minnesota. Worrell, 20,commutes to h er job as an administrative assistant for AllinaHospital and Clinics i n the Twin Cities. VanGundy, 21, works at hisfamily's lumber mill in M illtown, Wis.
The couple became engaged on Valentine's Day.
"We took it all really, really slow," Worrell said. After high school,s he lived and studied accounting in the Twin Cities for two yearswhile V anGundy stayed in Wisconsin.
"That was a lot of my mom's influence, but I wanted to live on my own,t oo," she said. "But we knew we were ready for this. We know we'regoing t o get married and be together forever, as cheesy as thatsounds."
The two were not disturbed by studies showing that couples who cohabitb efore marriage have a higher divorce rate. That may be because theycom e from families in which the parents lived together beforemarriage and a re still happily married, they said.
Also, they see their decision to live together as a logical, thoughser ious,
step in their relationship.
"It's not a loose connection, and I don't think it lessens the statuso f marriage," Worrell said. "I think it's just a product of a moreopen- minded time. To us, marriage is going to be as sacred as it everwas."
Apparently they never married as she was not listed in his obituary.
Name: Donald S. Vangundy
SSN: 394-86-0153
Last Residence: 54810 Balsam Lake, Polk, Wisconsin
Born: 27 Jul 1980
Died: 18 Oct 2008
State (Year) SSN issued: Wisconsin (1981)
From Public Records:
Donald S. Vangundy
1980 - 2008
Donald was born on July 27, 1980 and passed away on Saturday, October1 8, 2008.
Donald was last known to be living in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin.
Severa obituaries and memorials appear online:
Balsam Lake man dies due to injuries in Saturday rollover
Published 10/21/2008, New Richmond News
Donald VanGundy, 28 of Balsam Lake, died early Saturday morning due toi njuries sustained in a one vehicle accident. Andrew Arnold, 29 ofEmera ld, was also injured in the accident.
In Memory of Donny VanGundy - 7/27/80-10/18/08 *Still Rockin*
Donny was an incredible person, he is and always will be greatlymissed b y everyone. He is gone, but will never be forgotten.
Donny S. Van Gundy, 28 years of age of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin passedaw ay on October 18, 2008 at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center.
Donny was born on July 27, 1980 in St. Croix Falls to parents, DonnyG. V an Gundy and Marilyn (Fox) Van Gundy.
Donny grew up in Balsam Lake, WI where he graduated from Unity HighSch ool in 1998. Soon after graduating Donny started working with hisstep- father at Direct Forest Products in the hardwood lumberindustry. He en joyed working in the hardwood industry and wascurrently employed at Ba lsam Mill Works in New Richmond, Wisconsin.On the weekends Donny was a ble to fulfill his true passion and dowhat he really loved. That passi on was singing in a rock band andDonny was the lead singer of Maximum D osage. In his free time heenjoyed playing poker, volleyball, softball, s inging, shooting pool,building things and watching horror movies.
It was always Donny’s dream to meet his hero. His hero was hisfather t hat he lost when he was only 3 months of age. We all findcomfort in kn owing that he is now getting to know the father he haswanted to know.
He is preceded in death by his father, Donny G. Van Gundy, paternalgra ndfather, LaVerne Van Gundy, maternal grandparents, Ruby and VernFox, a unts and uncles.
He is survived by his mother, Marilyn Gurtner and her husband Duane ofB alsam Lake, sisters, Erica and Paige Gurtner, grandmother, Iona VanGun dy, Luck, WI, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friendsas we ll as some very special close friends.
Funeral service was held on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 11:00 A.M.at F aith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake.
Casketbearers were Ricky Fox, Joe L'Allier, Arnie Dojan, MikeD'Agostin o, Desi Armstrong, Brandon Scheuer, Jason Short and AndyBayle.
Visitation was held at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria onW ednesday from 4 – 7 P.M. and then again at the church on Thursdayfrom 1 0:00 A.M. until the time of service at 11:00 A.M.
Donny was laid to rest next to his father at the Milltown Cemeteryfoll owing the funeral service.
And this:
Oct 18 2008 7:46 PM
Local Band, Maximum Dosage's lead singer, Donny Vangundy, passed awaye arly this morning in a tragic car accident. Donny was always 'Takingit t o the Max' on stage and lived his life to the fullest. Ourthoughts and p rayers are with his family and friends.
They'll be heading out to JJ's Club 35 tonight to celebrate Donny'slif e and remember him for who he was and what he meant to everyone.
