Gerald Eugene GUNDERSON

GUNDERSON, DOYEN, MILLIE, FUERHOFF, ROBERTSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/31/2016 at 15:23:53

March 16, 1928 --- May 19, 2014

Gerald Eugene "Gundy" Gunderson, son of Magnus and Eleanor (Doyen) Gunderson, was born March 16, 1928 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gundy died Monday, May 19, 2014, at the Golden Living Center in Wausa, Nebraska. At the age of eight, Gerald lost his father in a car accident, and at the age of 16, he was blessed to have Leo Millie become a part of the family. Gerald was baptized and confirmed at Benton Lutheran Church in Norway, Iowa. In 1964, he joined the Thabor Lutheran Church in Wausa, Nebraska. Upon graduation from Norway High School in 1945, Gerald attended the University of Iowa for one year before enlisting in the United States Navy on July 17, 1946. After receiving his Honorable Discharge on July 31, 1948, Gerald enrolled at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where he graduated in 1951 with a degree in education, later earning a Master of Science in education degree in 1958 from Wayne State.

On May 27, 1951, Gerald married his college sweetheart, Verlene Fuerhoff in Beemer, Nebraska. They were blessed with three children: Jean, Gary, and Jane. Gerald and Verlene's first two years of marriage were spent teaching in Arlington, Nebraska. In 1953, the young couple moved to Wausa, Nebraska, where they took teaching jobs and spent the rest of their married lives. Gerald taught business and was the head basketball coach, taking the Vikings to the state tournament in 1958.

In 1959, Gerald followed in his father's footsteps of banking, and started working for the Commercial State Bank and attended the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in 1967. In 1970, Gerald became President of Commercial State Bank, remaining in that position until retiring in 1993. He continued to be involved in banking by being the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Commercial State Bank until his death. Gerald was very involved in the community of Wausa and Thabor Lutheran Church. While in college, he played basketball for the Wayne State Wildcats. Gerald enjoyed playing baseball for several teams as well as playing golf at Rolling Hills Country Club near Wausa. He loved following the Wausa Vikings and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Gundy was preceded in death by: parents, Magnus and Eleanor Gunderson; step-father, Leo Millie; brother, Lyle Gunderson; sister-in-law, Ruby Gunderson; niece, Chris Robertson; parents-in-law, Ernest and Selma Fuerhoff; step-mother-in-law, Emma Fuerhoff and sister-in-law, Jo Fuerhoff.

Funeral services for Gerald E. "Gundy" Gunderson, of Wausa, Nebraska, were at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2014, at Thabor Lutheran Church, Wausa, Nebraska. Pastor Michelle Oetken as officiator. Burial in the Lutheran Cemetery at Wausa, Nebraska. Military Honors will be conducted by VFW Post #5824 of Wausa, Nebraska and the United States Navy Honor Guard.

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[Gunderson family from Eagle Grove, Iowa]