Alfred "Fred" Gabriel Gunderson

Alfred “Fred” G. Gunderson, age 91, of Willmar, passed away Friday, April 8, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Interment with military honors will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery.  Arrangements are entrusted to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Alfred Gabriel Gunderson was born on February 23, 1931, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Alfred and Esther (Forcier) Gunderson.  He grew up in Willmar, was raised in the Catholic faith, received his education in the Willmar schools and returned to work on the family farm.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War with the 587th Combat Engineer Battalion from 1951 to 1952.  On April 10, 1954, Alfred was married to Mavis Evelyn Knutson and they made their home in Willmar.  He was employed by the Great Northern & Burlington Northern Railroad for over 45 years as a brakeman and conductor.  He was a member of the Burlington Northern Veteran’s Association and National Association of Retired Veteran Railroad Employees.  He served as Local Chairman for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen for 10 years and as Assistant Local Chairman for Conductors for 6 years.  Alfred enjoyed fishing, deer hunting and sports.  He was an avid fan of the MN Twins and MN Vikings.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mavis; four children, Rebecca (and Richard) Bergeson of Montevideo, Pauline Ledeboer of Willmar, Timothy (and Dawn) Gunderson of Blaine and Paul Gunderson of Willmar; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  Also surviving is one sister-in-law, Jacqueline Gunderson of Coon Rapids, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Caleb Ledeboer; five sisters, Viola Schneider, Marie Van Heuveln, Evelyn Heveron, Margaret Beckman and Alyce Kotzenmacher; and five brothers, Leonard, Otis, William, John and Robert Gunderson.