Vernon Lenroot Amundson D.D.S.

Vernon Amundson, 87 years old, of Tower, Minnesota and Sarasota, Florida, passed away peacefully at his lake home in Tower on July 2, 2024, with family at his side holding his hands. He was a Duluthian by birth, son of Benjamin and Esther Amundson, and lived and worked there until his retirement. Vernon married his Duluth East High School sweetheart, Nancy Lydia Piper, in 1959, and they celebrated 44 years together. He was a Golden Gopher and graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Following graduation, he served as a captain at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana during the Cuban missile crisis period. Although he did not serve in active duty, he had the experience of flying a fighter jet with an air force pilot colleague also at the controls. He and Nancy returned to Duluth to establish their home, and he joined his father, his two brothers, and his sister in the Amundson Family dental practice. They raised a family of four children.

Vernon was a philanthropist with his time for both civic groups and dental organizations. He was an Eagle Scout, and he enjoyed participating in the Duluth Rotary Club. He served as chairman of the board of WDSE Public TV in Duluth, chairman of the board of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the board of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). He was recognized professionally as a Fellow of the American College of Dentistry and a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry. His professional contributions included being president of the North East District Dental Society, president of the Duluth Dental Forum study club, president of the Minnesota State Dental Association, and a delegate to the American Dental Association.

Once retired, Vernon and Nancy became snow birds and spent colder months in Sarasota, Florida in a community populated by family and friends from Duluth and beyond. They returned to Tower, Minnesota every spring to spend the warm months at a cabin on Lake Vermilion that they literally built together. It was a labor of love for the family to create this marvelous home.

Nancy passed away unexpectedly in 2004. Vernon remarried a lifelong friend, Barbara Peil and enjoyed her companionship for a short period of time until she passed away from a long standing illness in 2008. He later became reacquainted with Joanne Enquist, who he had known through the dental community. They married at sea off the coast of Greece in 2013, and celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary just days before Vernon passed away. He admired Joanne’s beauty and her deep fund of knowledge.

Vernon had a gift of creating fellowship and conversation, always wanting to talk on the phone or in person with family and friends. He had the ability to connect and become friends with strangers he just met. Hard work, perseverance, and optimism guided him throughout his life and he passed these ethics along to others. He was known as a carpenter, a fisherman, a photographer, and a golfer. Vernon wore an amazing collection of colorful golf pants in his younger years and flashy ties in his later years, and these became his clothing trademarks. Of late, the movies “Home Alone” and “Vacation” gave him chuckles. Music filled his life, and he shared this joy with everyone he knew. His home was never complete without a piano to play. As a young man, he was honored to sing “It’s a Blue World” backstage at a concert with The Four Freshman. Vern enjoyed any music that was melodic or filled with harmony, and nothing moved him more than “Moon River” by Henri Mancini.

Filled with grace and appreciation, Vernon continued to express this message to those around him. He would squeeze hands, hug, wink, and smile when words were few.

Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Esther (Holmstrom) Amundson; wife and mother of his children, Nancy (Piper) Amundson; second wife, Barbara (Peil) Amundson; siblings, Dale (Elaine) Amundson, Pauline (John) Dahl, sister-in-law, Ruth Amundson; son-in-law, José Carlos Neiva de Carvalho e Silva.

He is survived by wife, Joanne; children, Brock, Brett, Brook Amundson de Carvalho e Silva, and Blake (Kim); grandchildren, Fletcher, Kyle, Matthew, Joseph “Joey”, Lauren; brother, Gordon (Mary); and a large extended family and many friends.

Family is grateful to the entire team of St. Mary’s East Range Hospice of Virginia, Minnesota. Their care of Vernon exceeded all expectations of dedication, kindness, and expertise.

Vernon’s life will be celebrated at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1710 East Superior Street, Duluth Minnesota 55812 at 1:00 pm on Friday, July 26, 2024. Visitors are welcome to gather at the church at 12:00 pm prior to the service and then at 2:00 pm for fellowship afterward. Vernon was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Duluth, Minnesota and a seasonal member of St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Sarasota, Florida. Interment at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota will occur at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rotary Foundation, the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Duluth, Minnesota.