Jeanne Gunderson
October 12, 1934 — July 1, 2014
Jeanne LeTourneau Gunderson, age 79, died Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Colorado Springs, CO, following a brief illness. Jeanne was born October 12, 1934 in Cook, MN before spending her early life in Greaney, Mn. She moved to Duluth, MN after graduating from high school in Orr, MN and there she met and married Thomas Elmer Gunderson.
Jeanne moved to Menomonee Falls, WI with her family in 1970, where she returned to college in her forties and graduated as a nurse in 1975. She worked as a nurse, in both hospital and clinic settings in Milwaukee and Neenah, WI until her retirement in 1994. Jeanne lived in the Neenah, WI area until 2001, when she suffered a disabling auto accident. She spent the remaining years of her life in long term care in Colorado Springs, CO to be near her daughter.
Jeanne was known for her vivacious personality and her radiant smile. She was an accomplished seamstress, an avid reader, and a homemaker and cook of exceptional skill. During her lifetime she traveled extensively domestically and internationally, and enjoyed the RV lifestyle for many years with her family and her husband. Jeanne and her husband Tom were active in the car show circuit and followed racing for many years. Together, and after his passing, Tom and Jeanne were devoted pet owners whose poodles Nicole, and then Tasha, accompanied them on all their travels. Jeanne was renowned for her shopping skills and had great style. She filled the room with her presence and the laughter and fun she created.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Gunderson, her son Grant Thomas Gunderson, daughter Jeanne, her parents Thomas LeTourneau and Lillian Engstrom, her identical twin sister Janice Vidor, sisters Lucille Nelson, Marilyn Skraba, and four nieces and nephews.
Jeanne is survived by her daughter Kimberly Gunderson (Scott Daw) of Colorado Springs, CO, her brothers Tom LeTourneau, Gheen, MN, Roger LeTourneau, Duluth, MN; sisters Bernice Quinn, West Allis, WI, Mildred Merritt, Palm Beach, FL, Rochelle LeTourneau, Savage, MN and 32 nieces and nephews.
Service will be 1PM, Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Park Hill Cemetery Chapel, 2500 Vermilion Road Duluth, MN 55803, with a visitation one hour prior.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth. (218) 727-3555.