Axel John Jurva

Axel John Jurva

Axel John Jurva, 27, of Virginia, Minn., left us far too soon on June 5, 2025, but not before living a life full of laughter and love.

Born October 28, 1997, to Lori Duel and Eric Jurva, Axel packed a lot of life into his 27 years. A proud graduate of Eveleth-Gilbert High School (Class of 2016) and Mesabi Community College (2018), he chased opportunity and adventure wherever it called, most notably to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he jumped into the hands-on world of tile work and carpentry.

In 2022, Axel returned to his home state of Minnesota and in 2023 began working with Rough-N-It, a nonprofit dedicated to building primitive campsites on Lake Vermilion that benefit disabled veterans and their families. It was a perfect match for Axel – his big heart at work helping others.Anyone who knew Axel knew he lived big. He had a love for golf, snowboarding, fishing, music festivals, concerts and being surrounded by the people he cared about. If something sounded fun, he was in. If someone needed help, he showed up. His loyalty ran deep, his smile was infectious, and his heart – it was one of the biggest around.

He leaves behind a circle of family and friends who adored him: his parents, Lori and Eric; grandparents Lucille Lakosky, Mark Kilpela, Bonnie and Larry Bohne, and Phillip Dassinger; brothers Andrew Dassinger and Zach Bohne; sisters Allie Bohne and Sophia Magnuson; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and a loving crew of longtime friends.

We'll celebrate Axel's life the way he lived it – surrounded by laughter, stories and connection – on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 12–4 p.m. at the Virginia Elks. All who knew him are welcome. Axel's time here may have been short, but his impact was huge. The memories he made will keep us smiling for years to come.

No funeral services are planned.