Paula Jayne Gard

Paula Gard of St. Michael, formerly of Pine City, passed away at her home on Sunday, May 29, 2016 at the age of 52. Paula Jayne (Leibel) Gard was born on November 27, 1963 to Robert and Caryl (Neubauer) Leibel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Paula grew up in Pine City. While she was in school, she played the clarinet in band, was on the high school basketball team and graduated from Pine City High School in 1982. For a short time, she lived in Texas and Arizona before moving back to Minnesota. On May 10, 2003, Paula married the love of her life, Tom Gard and they made their home in St. Michael, Minnesota. For the past thirteen years, she has worked at Upsher-Smith Laboratories in Maple Grove as a Business Data Coordinator. Paula loved her family and her many dear friends. She loved fishing, motorcycling, traveling, listening to all kinds of music (especially blues), puzzles, crossword puzzles, watching the Vikings, meeting new people and learning their stories. She enjoyed sitting in her Adirondack chair on her screened-in porch with Tom and their beloved Boston terrier, Ivan. Paula is survived by her husband Thomas Gard of St. Michael, son Shawn Leibel of Florida, father Bob Leibel of Pine City, sisters Pamela (Bob) Nierengarten, Patricia (Tom) Beiring of Pine City, brother Peter (Wendy) Leibel of Pine City, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Caryl Leibel, and infant brother Jay Robert Leibel. A Celebration of Paula’s life will be held: 7 PM Friday, June 3, 2016 with a gathering of family and friends from 4-7 PM all at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. The family requests no flowers, please. Funeral arrangements for Paula Gard are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Swanson Chapel, Pine City, Minnesota. www.funeralandcremationservice.com