Artist, entrepreneur, and mother - Ronni Feuer was a woman of many gifts.

Feuer, founder and creator of FunkyChunky and Gracious Gifts, Inc., died Wednesday following a seven year battle with breast cancer. She was 63.

Art was a lifelong pursuit for Feuer, who began painting at the age of eight. She began her career as a painter and sculptor creating commissioned and non-commissioned fiber sculptures. Feuer founded Gracious Gifts in 1993 as a way to express her artistic talents by creating luxury gift baskets after moving to Minnetonka, Minn.

“Ronni was an inspiration to many throughout her career as an artist,” says daughter and co-founder Erica Feuer-Kopilenko.

The gift basket business, which Feuer operated from home, continued to expand. Feuer decided to make her own gourmet chocolates one Christmas when her supplier was unable to get her everything she needed in time.

She started with fresh fruit dipped in a blend of imported chocolate and developed her own version of popcorn drizzled in chocolate that evolved into the FunkyChunky and FixMix lines. Today the FunkyChunky line includes chocolate drenched pretzels and chocolate candy bars.

“She was a leader the gourmet snacking industry by finding creative and unique ways of combining chocolate and other premium ingredients into delicious and indulgence snacks,” says Feuer-Kopilenko.

In 2001, Gracious Gifts moved to a showroom and production facility in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company operations moved again in 2007 to a new location in Edina, Minn.

In addition to gift baskets, the business offers custom hand-made chocolates for all occasions from baby showers and weddings to personalized corporate gifts.

Donations in the honor of Ronni Feuer are being accepted by The Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation, 3850 Shoreline Dr., Wayzata, Minn. or online at www.hopechest.us.

For more information about Gracious Gifts, visit www.funkychunkyinc.com.

- M.K.