Ardell Gunderson, 1926-2014

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Funeral Services for G.M. Ardell Gunderson will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland. The Rev. Shawn Stafford will officiate.

Ardell Gunderson

Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church.

Ardell died on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, at Thorne Crest Retirement Community. He was 88.

Gordon Merlin Ardell Gunderson was born on the farm in Freeborn County on Jan. 20, 1926, the youngest of nine children of Alfred and Olga (Tommeraasen) Gunderson.

Ardell attended Albert Lea schools.

He was united in marriage to Geraldine Faye Cook on July 11, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.

Ardell lived his life farming the land he so loved. He farmed near Twin Lakes until spending his retirement years as a custodian for District 241.

He was currently a member of Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church. Throughout the years he enjoyed singing in church choirs.

He had been a 4-H leader and enjoyed the years he and Geraldine danced with the Grapevine Twist Square Dance Group.  Ardell’s other interests included boating, snowmobiling, trains and World War II airplanes.

Even after retiring from farming, Ardell enjoyed keeping his hands in the earth. He tended to a large garden, sharing some of his bounty at the Albert Lea Farmers Market.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Geraldine; his children Adel (Loren) Hoseck of Minnetonka, John (Nancy) Gunderson of Greeley, Colo., and Charles (Cindy) Gunderson of Britt, Iowa; grandchildren Daniel (Ivory) Hoseck of Hopkins, Amanda (Christopher) McAlpine and their children Brielle Ann and Colin of Rogers, Megan (Juan) Paredes and their children Vianny and Lily of Napa, Calf., Lindsey (Matt) Hahn of Littleton, Colo., Gregory Gunderson and his son, Evan, of Bondurant, Iowa, Mitchell (Josie) Gunderson  and their children Kristian, Zoe and Jackson of Forest City, Iowa, David Gunderson (Jamie Wilburn) and children Dallas, Hunter and Nathan of Woodland, Wis., and Derek (Kerry) Gunderson and their expected blessing, “Baby G,” of Britt; and several nieces and nephews.

Ardell was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren in infancy; and sisters and brothers Sylvia Nelson, Ruby Rogeness, Truman Gunderson, Norma Tukua, Carlisle Gunderson, Lillian Grasdalen, Vernon Gunderson and Gaylord Gunderson.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Hartland Evangelical Lutheran Church college fund.