Glenn Gunderson, age 84, of Glenwood, MN, died Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta, MN. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, April 18^th, at Glenwood Lutheran Church with Rev. Krista Lee officiating. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Glenn Arnold Gunderson, the son of Arnold and Emma (Larson) Gunderson was born on the homestead farm in Minnewaska Township, Pope County on January 24, 1933.  He was baptized at Indherred Church on April 13, 1933. He grew up on the farm and attended school in Glenwood.  While growing up, he helped on the family farm and was active in 4H. Glenn graduated from Glenwood High School in 1952.  After graduation Glenn continued to work on the family farm, eventually heading to the Twin Cities to further his education at the University of Minnesota.  In 1959, he graduated with two degrees in Geography and Geology.  Later he attended St. Cloud State University where he earned an Education Degree.  His first job was as a federal government inspector.  He lived in Chicago and traveled across the Midwest making certain that factories were up to par.  After that, he was employed by Mower County in Austin, Minnesota as a social worker and then by Stearns County in St. Cloud, Minnesota for 36 years. 

On August 25, 1968, Glenn was united in marriage to Sylvia Sylvester Bergeson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Minnesota.  Glenn also welcomed Norma, John, Peter and Sara Bergeson into his new life.  The family settled in Sauk Rapids and continued to live in the area until 1998, when Glenn and Sylvia retired to the Gunderson farm on Pelican Lake in Glenwood. 

Glenn was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud for 30 years until he moved back to Glenwood where he and Sylvia became members of Glenwood Lutheran Church.  He was active in the church choir, the Pope County Men’s Chorus, the Glenwood Lions Club (where he served as president), the Solorlag of America and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation. 

He enjoyed reading, music, carpentry, the Minnesota State Fair, book collections, politics, and Gopher football.  Glenn especially loved his family.  He enjoyed family genealogy, hosting family reunions, and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s concerts and athletic events. 

He is survived by his wife and loving companion for over 48 years, Sylvia Mae Gunderson of Glenwood; his daughters, Norma Bergeson of Sauk Rapids and Sara (Michael) Wilson of Surprise, AZ; sons: John (Janet) Bergeson of St. Cloud, Peter Bergeson of Sauk Rapids, and David (Jessica) Gunderson of Sauk Rapids; grandchildren: Lindsay Cajune-Duffy, William Wilson, Stephen Wilson, James Wilson, Siri Bergeson, Courtney Bergeson, Emma Gunderson, Gustav Gunderson and Soren Gunderson; great-grandchildren: Ava Cajune, Iris O’Donnell, Brooke Wilson and Madeline Duffy; and many friends and relatives. 

Glenn is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Fuhrman. 

Memorials are preferred to Glenwood Lutheran renovation fund and Indherred Church. 

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