Willard Gunderson

Willard L. Gunderson, age 93, of New London and formerly of Sunburg, died Thursday evening, August 14, at GlenOaks Care Center in New London.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 20, at the Sunburg Free Lutheran Church with Rev. Ronald Knutson officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 P.M. on Tuesday, August 19, at the Sunburg Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Willard Lloyd Gunderson was born on July 6, 1915, on the family farm near Sunburg, the son of John and Mathilda (Freese) Gunderson. He grew up in the Sunburg community, was baptized and confirmed at the Sunburg Free Lutheran Church and received his education in the country schools. As a young man, he toured throughout the United States on his motorcycle and was employed in Northern Minnesota as a laborer on a farm. In 1950, he moved to Minneapolis and was employed at Honeywell as a punch press operator. On April 2, 1955, Willard was united in marriage to Mildred Almos and they made their home in Minneapolis. In 1980, Willard retired and in 1990, they moved to Sunburg. Mildred died in 1992 and in 2006 Willard entered the GlenOaks Care Center. He was a lifelong member of the Sunburg Free Lutheran Church and longtime member of the Gideons and the National Rifle Association. Willard enjoyed riding his motorcycle, hunting, listening to old style Scandinavian violin and gospel music and visiting with his neighbors and friends.

He is survived by one nephew, David Gunderson of Brooten; five nieces, Marlys (and Ronald) Torkelson of Kerkhoven, Janice (and Leland) Hanson of Sunburg, Doreen (and Brian) Syverson of Sedan, Judy (and James) Ellingson of Sunburg and Marge (and Rod) Gronseth of Sunburg; and one sister-in-law, Gladys Stai of Sunburg, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred; two brothers, Jerome and Edgar; and four nephews.