Sunde, Dean (1932-2011)

SUNDE, MCCARDY, BRUE, HOFLAND

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/3/2011 at 18:42:57

Dean Sunde
October 28, 1932 - March 28, 2011)

Dean Sunde, age 78, of Buffalo Center, died Monday, March, 28, 2011, at the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center, Iowa, from complications following a car accident on January 17.

Dean Lowell Sunde was born October 28, 1932, in Buffalo Center to Jonas and Isalene (McCrady) Sunde, the youngest of four sons. He grew up and lived all of his life on the family farm. He graduated from Buffalo Center High School in 1950 and served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He started farming in partnership with his father after his honorable discharge from the Army and continued farming grain and livestock until his retirement.

On June 2, 1956, Dean married Joan Brue at the Linden Lutheran Church in rural Thompson. They subsequently raised two children: Alison and Doug.

Dean was a continuous member of The American Legion for fifty-three years including terms as commander and adjutant. He was a forty-seven year member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he served as a member of the church council.

Dean was active in politics serving as co-chair of the Winnebago County Democratic Party. Highlights of his political passions included two invitations to the White House, one as a guest of President Jimmy Carter for the 1978 State of the Union address and also as a member of the agriculture advisory committee in 1980.

He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing at Tuttle Lake and other area lakes in both Iowa and Minnesota as well as prize fishing in Canada. Dean loved fun, games and coffee. He won many cribbage championships both at home and in Arizona where he and Joan spent many winters.

Always open for a new joke, he was known as an infamous tease. The Korean armistice, he often touted, was signed a month before his deployment “because they heard he was coming.” He often reminded his grandchildren he was the first Buffalo Center Homecoming King in 1949. And everyone in the family knew chicken pox couldn’t clear up until an egg was laid. Because life is short, he believed in making others laugh as much as he could. From his past health concerns, he and his family learned to accept every day as a gift. He believed in making every word and hug count as though it could be the last.

According to his wishes, Dean’s body has been donated to the Mayo Clinic.

Dean is survived by Joan, his wife of 54 years; a daughter, Alison, and her husband, Garland Hofland, and their children, Eric and Amber, of Oceanside, California; a son, Doug, and his special friend, Laura Bezdicek, and Evan, Alex and Chance, of Buffalo Center. His extended family includes Ann Sunde, Beverly and Larry Sunde, Tom Sunde and family, Mavis Johnson, Elaine Hetland and Laverne & Judy Brue. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jonas and Isalene; and brothers, Donald, Eldon and Duane Sunde.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2, 2011, at 1:30 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center with Pastor Perry Aalgaard officiating.

A visitation will be held Friday, April 1, 2011, in the Social Hall at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center, Iowa, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Copyright © 2011, Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen