Funeral services for Geraldine (Jerrie) Faye Gunderson will be held at 1:30 PM Monday, May 20, 2019 at the Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel in Albert Lea, MN. Pastor Howie Krienke will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the chapel.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Albert Lea. Jerrie passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Trouvaille Memory Care in Excelsior, MN. She was 88 years of age.
Jerrie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ardell. Born August 31, 1930, to Glenn and Lillian (Purdie) Cook, Jerrie was the oldest of two daughters. Jerrie graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1948 and was very active in the Drama Club and one of the founding members of the National Thespian Society Albert Lea chapter.
Jerrie married Ardell Gunderson in 1948 and together they raised three children, Adel, John, and Charles, making their home on the Gunderson family farm near Albert Lea. Jerrie was Ardell’s devoted life partner, working with him as he farmed the land he loved so much. She also worked outside the home as a caregiver at the Good Samaritan Home for several years, associate manager for JC Penny, sales person at Leuthold Clothiers, and for 20 years was the church secretary at Zion Lutheran.
Jerrie was a 4-H leader (bread baking and sewing) and enjoyed the years when she and Ardell danced with the Grapevine Twist Square Dance Group. Other interests included gardening and canning/freezing everything and anything! , sewing, helping to organize the Zion Lutheran Food Stand at the Freeborn County Fair for many years, and later working with former classmates on ALHS Class Reunions.
With long hours tilling fields and milking cows, there was no time for family vacations away from the farm. Jerrie and Ardell made sure life was not all work and no play, however! They bought a Larsen pleasure boat, and the family enjoyed water sports on Fountain Lake where sister Cooki had a home.
Jerrie also enjoyed snowmobiling with friends, and their time share cabin in Park Rapids, MN. Jerrie is survived by her children Adel (Loren) Hoseck of Minnetonka, MN, John (Nancy) Gunderson of Thornton, CO, Charles (Cindy) Gunderson of Britt, IA, grandchildren Dan (Ivory) Hoseck, Amanda (Christopher) McAlpine and their children Brielle, Colin and Gavin, Megan (Juan) Paredes and their children Vianny, Lily, and Emmy, Lindsey (Matt) Hahn and their son Will, Gregory (Lisa) Gunderson and their children Evan and Noah, Mitchell (Josie) Gunderson and their children Kristian, Zoe and Jackson, David (Jamie) Gunderson and their children Dallas, Hunter and Nathan, Derek (Kerry) Gunderson and their children Aveda and Mallory. Also surviving is one sister Janice Westrum of Farmington, MN, nieces and nephews.
Family is incredibly grateful to the staff of Trouvaille Memory Care, Brighton Hospice, and Pastor Krienke for their ministry, and their tenderness and devotion caring for Jerrie, particularly in the last days of her life. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Trouvaille Memory Care Suites, 6330 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN 55331 OR Brighton Hospice Patient Care Fund in Jerrie’s name.
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