LaVerne D. Gunderson, age 79, of Hudson, WI, formerly of Osage, IA, passed away on November 5, 2012 at American Heritage Care Center in Hammond, WI.

LaVerne Dean Gunderson was born at home to Ruby (Woodard) and Theodore Gunderson in Osage, IA on August 31, 1933. He grew up in Osage and attended Osage High School, graduating in 1951. He was known as Babe or Gundy to his friends and classmates. While a student at OHS, he participated in sports and was a standout in wrestling. He achieved a gold medal at the NE Iowa Conference, a silver metal at the NE Iowa District Conference, and brought home a bronze metal from the Iowa State Wrestling tournament in 1951 at 155 pounds. He loved to talk about his wrestling days at OHS.

In July of 1951, he was inducted into the U.S. military and served in the Second Battalion, 5th Marine Corp. He served active duty during the Korean conflict and received a Letter of Commendation in 1952 from the Corp for an act of heroism that saved many members of his battalion. He also received a Purple Heart when shrapnel tore into his arm in Korea. He was honorably discharged in July of 1954.

On December 11, 1954 he married Maxine J. Behl at Trinity Lutheran Church in Osage. Soon after their marriage, they moved to the Chicago area where they lived for 22 years. Gundy worked carpentry construction most of those years. While living in Palatine, he became active in the American Legion Post 690 and rose through the ranks to become Commander in 1970.

After their children were grown, Gundy and Maxine moved for a short while to Phoenix, AZ before moving to Hudson, WI where they have made their home since 1978. Gundy worked security at Stanley Smith Security after moving to Hudson, retiring in 1998.

His favorite pastimes were gardening, fishing, playing horse shoes, reading the newspapers, and in later years, solving the New York Times Crossword puzzles. He was often chided about his worn and tattered dictionaries that were his aides and always by his side.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Maxine; daughter, Michele (John) Glomski of Island Lake, IL; 3 sons, Blair (Verla) Gunderson of Baldwin, WI; Duane (Susan) Gunderson of Newport, MN, and James Gunderson of Danbury, WI; five sisters-in-laws: Jennie Gunderson of Phoenix, AZ, Phyllis Gunderson of LaMesa, CA, Lois Morris of Mason City, IA, Myrna (Al) VanMeveren of Colman, SD, and Jeanette (Garth Jordan) Armstrong of Osage, IA; 8 grandchildren, Heather, Roger, Mitchell, Matthew, Loretta, Paul, Dennis, and Dustin; 10 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents; his brothers, Lauren and Eugene; sister, Frances Barker; and brother-in-law, Dean Morris.

Funeral service for Gundy will be held on Saturday, November 10th at 11 a.m. at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 11th St. S, Hudson with a gathering of friends and family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial at Osage Cemetery will be held at a later date.