Norman Ohnstad Gunderson, age 92, of Garnavillo, Iowa, died Dec. 14, 2021, at the Guttenberg Care Center. Iowa Cremation (www.iowacremation.com) assisted the family. Due to COVID restrictions there was a private family service on Dec. 18, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo.

Norman was born on Sept. 6, 1929, in West Allis, Wis., son of Andrew E. and Ida A. (Ohnstad) Gunderson. After graduating from West Allis Nathan Hale High School, he spent the next 26 months with the U.S. Army. In Jan. of 1955 he graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and the next 10 years teaching at the McGregor and Garnavillo High Schools. Norman also served as Principal of the Garnavillo High School from 1958-1965. He then served as a Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance Representative for Clayton County until his retirement in 1992. On Aug. 7, 1955, he was married to Gwendolyn Carole (Kaiser) Gunderson ‘57 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Jeffery, Roxanne and Gregory. Norman spent his free time golfing, watching sports, fishing, playing cards, spending winters in Texas and enjoying time with his family. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Those left to cherish his memories include his wife of 66 years, Gwen (Kaiser) Gunderson ‘57  of Garnavillo; his son Jeffery Gunderson ‘79 (Marcia), of Moline, Ill.; his daughter Roxanne (Gunderson) Heinrichs ‘81 of Manchester, Iowa; and his son Gregory Gunderson ‘83 (Raelynn)  of New Braunfels, Texas; three grandchildren, Kelli Schafer, Christine (Mark) Moreno, and Taylor Heinrichs; four step-grandchildren, Marcus (Julie) Quaranta, Chad (Julie) Quaranta, Paul (Holly) Ayala, and Heather Lunsford; eight great-grandchildren, Lilly, Brooke, Autumn, Jackson, Xander, Morgan, Caitlyn and Layla.

The family would like to thank the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics, the Guttenberg Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for all the care and kindness given to Norman.

Memorials may be designated to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa and the Garnavillo EMS.