Gunnarsson, Thor V.

GUNNARSSON, THORDARDOTTIR, MACRO

Posted By: Ruth Maring - VOLUNTEER
Date: 8/10/2009 at 12:56:32

Gunnarsson, Thor V. View/Sign Guest Book

SAVANNA, Ill. — Thor V. Gunnarsson, 60, of Grand Terrace, Calif., formerly of Savanna, Ill., died on Friday, July 17, 2009 at the Loma Linda VA Hospital, Loma Linda, Calif. after a sudden illness. Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of his cremated remains will take place in the Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna. Online memorials and tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.Thor was born in Reykjavik, Iceland on Nov. 7, 1948, the son of Borgthor V. and Asta B. (Thordardottir) Gunnarsson. He was brought to America as an infant when his parents immigrated here. The family spent their first years in Boston, then Houston and New York before they settled in Savanna in 1957. Thor was a graduate of Savanna High School, class of 1967. As a boy, he was active in sports; he love to fish, camp and water ski on the Mississippi River. He was the quarterback of the Savanna Indians football team that tied for the Illowa Conference championship his senior year.Thor received his bachelor's degree with honors in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1971, where he was a four-year ROTC. He received his master's degree in engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1973. He completed Air Force pilot training in 1973 and became a pilot in the USAF, Strategic Air Command. He was stationed principally at Loring AFB in Maine, but was also stationed in Thailand, Guam, Alaska, Scotland and briefly in Iran, before finally being stationed in southern California.He left the military after 15 years with the rank of major. His last military assignments were as a flight instructor on KC-135 aircraft at March AFB while he provided ground assistance at Edwards AFB in relation to development of the B-1 bomber. After the Air Force, Thor was a pilot with Continental Airlines until he retired in 2005. His last routes were 757's flown out of Los Angeles. He loved everything about the aircraft.Thor married Gail Macro in Maine in 1977. When Thor flew for the airline, Gail used to meet him at the airport when his flight was complete. She was at his bedside when he died.Thor is survived by his wife, Gail; his stepchildren, Pam, Lori and Terry; two grandsons, Tony and Austin; two brothers, Val Gunnarsson and Gunnar (Helen) Gunnarsson; nieces Jill and Mariannae and his nephew Erik. Thor was preceded in death by his parents.Death date: July 17, 2009
Published in the Clinton Herald from 7/27/2009 - 7/29/2009