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Thelma J. Gunderson, 84
Thelma Jeanette Gunderson, 84, of Spring Valley died Saturday, June 12, 1999, at the Spring Valley Health Care Center after a battle with cancer.
She was born June 12, 1915, in the town of Gilman, the daughter of Adolph and Katherine (Wahl) Swenson. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley. She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1934.
After high school she worked on the family farm and at Thompson's Caf‚ in Spring Valley. On June 9, 1938, she married Oscar Gunderson and they farmed in the town of Gilman.
She was an active member of Gilman Lutheran Church and served on various committees and offices there, as well as the church ladies group.
She began playing piano at the age of 5. She played by ear and at age 9 her father bought her a piano.
Giving to others was a big part of her life. She enjoyed playing the piano and keyboard, entertaining residents of many area health care and assisted living centers. She entertained with Carl Strom for 11 years.
She also loved to garden, cook and bake. She liked being with her family and having family members around her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolp and Katherine; and a brother, Ben Swenson.
Survivors include her three sons: Tom of Spring Valley, Bruce and Glenna of Waupaca and Gail and Karen of Spring Valley; four grandchildren: Kara Gunderson of Spring Valley, Christine and Mark Kienbaum of Plover, Ginger and Steven LaCosse of Appleton and Craig of Waupaca; three great-grandchildren: Lindsey and Hanna Kienbaum and Luke LaCosse; two sisters: Alice Madson of Spring Valley and Sylva and Allen Anderson of Spring Valley; nieces and nephews: Beverly Gaard of Ellsworth, Donna Carter of Arizona, Audrey and Duane Erickson of Severn, Md., Gary and Mary Madson of Virginia, Nola and Dale Gehn of Hudson, Katherine and Robert Beeson of Peoria, Ariz., Dean and Sandy Madson of Spring Valley, Jon and Linda Anderson of Spring Valley, Steven and Bobbie Anderson of River Falls, Betty and Vince Driscoll of Bloomington, Gloria and Jack Weghorn of Spring Valley, and John and Barb Kirk of Barron; many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Tuesday, June 15, at Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley.
Funeral was Wednesday, June 16, at Gilman Lutheran Church with the Rev. Keith Holste officiating. Music was provided by organist Linda Anderson and pianist B. Craig Gunderson.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers were: Carl Strom, Irvin Larson, Ervin Gilbertson, Robert Cebulla, Ben Esanbock, Bob Esanbock and Millard Anderson.
Pallbearers were: John Kirk, Jack Weghorn, Dan Mulcrone, Jon Anderson, Gary Madson, Dean Madson and Dale Gehn.
Gordon Abair, 72
Gordon Abair, 72, of Deer Park died Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at Regions Hospital, St. Paul.
He was born Sept. 18, 1926, in Laona, the son of Lloyd and Beatrice (Alexander) Abair. He grew up mostly in the Park Falls area. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater. After the service he met his wife, Mary Shimmons, in Joplin, Mo. They were married in 1951 and lived in the Chicago area. Since 1969 they have lived in northern Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Beatrice; a son, Dan; and a brother, Lloyd E. Abair.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; a daughter, Cindy Abair of Seattle; three sons: Mike of St. Paul, Pat and Debbie of River Falls, and Tim and Barb of Wales; five grandchildren; three sisters: Marie Tricomi of New York, Betty Perry of Deer Park and Louise Leekley of San Francisco.
Funeral was Friday, June 18, at Rhiel Funeral Home in Elmwood with the Rev. Robert Weidameyer officiating. Burial was to be in Poplar Hill Cemetery in the town of Rock Elm, rural Elmwood.
Ruth M. Nelson, 76
Ruth Marie Nelson, 76, of Spring Valley, died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at The Lutheran Home: River Falls.
She was born May 13, 1923, the daughter of Emil and Ingaborg (Hermanson) Pederson in the town of Cady, St. Croix County. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Woodville, and has been a member of New Centerville United Methodist Church since 1950.
She attended school in Woodville and graduated from Woodville High School with the class of 1942. After school she attended River Falls State Teachers College for 2 years. During high school and college she and her sister, Mary, sang with the KSTP Sunset Valley Barn Dance traveling radio show.
On Oct. 14, 1950, she married Velmo Nelson at Zion Lutheran Church in Woodville. She taught school at several rural schools and in Glenwood City Elementary School. After marriage she became a homemaker and a farm wife, raising her three children: Roland, Duane and Valerie.
She loved music and her family, and enjoyed gardening, animals and song birds. She served on the Martell Township Election Board for many years.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Emil and Ingaborg; and an infant brother, Ronald Eugene Pederson.
Survivors include her husband, Velmo, of Spring Valley; her children: Rollie and Debbie Nelson of Hammond, Valerie of River Falls and Duane of Spring Valley; four grandchildren: Angela, Marie, Johnathan and Michael; one sister: Mary Leon of Wilson; nieces and nephews: Elizabeth Leon of Wilson, Kari and Cyrus Leon-Irani of St. Paul, and David Leon of Wilson; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral was Thursday, June 24, at New Centerville United Methodist Church, rural Baldwin. The Rev. Gary Swanson officiated with music provided by organist Lenore Mercer and vocalists Elizabeth Leon and Kari Leon-Irani.
Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery, New Centerville.
Cyrus Irani was honorary pallbearer. Pallbearers were: Roland Nelson, Duane Nelson, David Leon, Robert Deiss, Terry Falde and Steve Nelson.
Glenn S. Gillihan, 82
Glenn Stephen Gillihan, 82, of Hammond, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999, at the American Heritage Care Center in Hammond.
He was born on Nov. 6, 1916, in Pipestone, Minn., the son of Thomas and Ethel (Williams) Gillihan. He attended grade school in Pipestone and in Hudson when his family moved there in 1926. His family lived in Hudson for a short time before moving to River Falls.
He graduated from River Falls High School in 1935. During World War II, he lived on a dairy farm in New Richmond. During most of his adult life he and his brother, Winfred, lived south of Hammond on their hobby farm.
He never married. He worked for the St. Croix Central Elementary School in Roberts with Green Thumb early in his life. He mostly worked for the American Breeder's Society as an artificial insemination technician. He worked there for nearly 35 years before his retirement in 1989.
He received the Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Animal Breeders in 1972.
He loved all sports, but held a special place in his heart for high school athletics. He was a past president and treasurer of the Hammond Baseball Team. In 1998 he was awarded a jacket from the St. Croix Central High School Athletic Program for being their number one fan, an award that had great meaning to him.
He was also treasurer of the Hammond Business and Civic Association for many years. He was widely known for his participation in the local parades, as he would walk along with his miniature Shetland ponies. He also enjoyed going to garage sales and auctions, looking for antiques.
He and his brother, Winfred, were active in researching their family roots and compiling family history.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Maurice, in 1965, Winfred, in 1994, and Elwin in 1998.
He is survived by his sister, Gail Slater, of St. Paul; nieces and nephews: Caryl and Burt Weaver of Fridley, Minn., Maxine and Kermit Ekstrom of Elmwood, Brian Gillihan of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Jack and Deb Gillihan of Lake Mills, Ruth and Tom Bynum of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Jane Jeager of Elkhorn, Jim and Char Gillihan of Elkhorn, Jeannine and Bob Uhrig of Black River Falls, Bill and Mary Jane Slater of N. Hudson, and Joanne Olsen of Vadnais Heights, Minn.
Funeral was Saturday, June 26, at O'Connell Family Funeral Home, Baldwin. The Rev. Gary Swanson officiated.
Glenn's family and friends were pallbearers. Interment was in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the St. Croix Central High School or the United Methodist Church in Hammond.
Gertrude Isaacson, 84
Gertrude Isaacson, 84, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999.
The eldest of three daughters born to R.J. and Bertha Vietor on May 2, 1915, in Charles City, Iowa, she moved with her family to Amery in 1919.
She graduated from Amery High School and UW-River Falls in 1937, with a bachelor of education degree. In 1936 she married Iner Isaacson at Ezekiel Lutheran Church and lived in River Falls all of her adult life.
The Isaacsons were in the grocery business until 1985. They were members of Ezekiel Lutheran Church and were active in various church activities. Iner died in 1988.
She is survived by her son, John, of River Falls; her sister, Polly Hackbart of Charles City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral was Sunday, June 27, at Ezekiel Lutheran Church.
Cashman Mortuary handled arrangements.
Calvin L. Plunkett, 51
Calvin Lee "Red" Plunkett, 51, of Big River, died Thursday, June 24, 1999, on his farm.
He was born July 6, 1947, in Superior, the son of Richard and Jeanette (Peterson) Plunkett. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Maple. He settled in River Falls, where he attended UW-River Falls and later purchased a dairy farm. He served 10 years on the Board of Directors for the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery.
On March 1, 1980, he married Gloria Paulsen. They raised eight children. In addition to farming, he enjoyed bowling, diesel mechanics and the company of his many friends and neighbors. A member of the River Falls United Methodist Church, he was of strong body and spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his parents, Richard and Jeanette; his children: Jennifer, Joshua, Tami and James Klimpke, Tera and Glenn Wachtler, James Engstrom, Daniel Engstrom, Mark Engstrom and Jeff Engstrom; his brothers: Brian Plunkett and Keith and Jackie Plunkett; his sisters: Barb and Tom Kolodziej, Janice and Rick Oaksford, and Mary and Ralph Frostman; and his grandchildren: Matthew, Rachel, Sydney, Benjamin, Jack and Chelsea.
Funeral was Monday, June 28, at the River Falls United Methodist Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
Cashman Mortuary handled arrangements.
Francis E. Fassett, 72
Francis E. "Swede" Fassett, 72, of Joseph, Utah, died Friday, June 4, 1999, in Richfield, Utah. He was a former resident of River Falls.
No other details were available.
