5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Faith Community Church 777 Carmichael Rd Hudson WI, 54016
- Wednesday, September 6, 2023 ,
Marilyn Kathryn Gunderson, age 72, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 30, 2023. She passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by love. Marilyn was born to Kathryn and Manning Genson on April 26, 1951 in Spooner, WI. She attended grade school and high school in Spooner and eventually went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls with a degree in elementary education and early childhood development. She fell in love with Timothy Gunderson while she was a student at UWRF and they married on June 7, 1980 at First Covenant Church in River Falls, WI.
Marilyn and Tim started their lives together in Fargo, ND, where they welcomed the birth of their son, Ryan. They soon moved to Hudson, WI, where they built their family home and welcomed the birth of their son, Adam. Marilyn delighted in being a wife and mother, cherishing her days nurturing and raising her boys. As her sons grew older, Marilyn spent ten additional years using her gift of teaching in the Hudson School District to guide and bless the young minds entrusted to her.
Marilyn’s joy grew into becoming a loving mother-in-law and doting nana to her five grandchildren. After retiring from teaching, she enjoyed living the “salt life” with Tim during the winters in Orange Beach, AL and sharing the gulf-side experiences with her family. She loved digging for unique shells, walking the beach, making sandcastles with her grandchildren, watching the dolphins from their patio, and joining Tim reeling in big fish from the shore. Sunrises and sunsets were her favorite times of the day and she cherished sharing the beautiful views with her family and friends.
Marilyn’s life was defined by her deep love for Jesus and her life-long commitment to share the gospel. Her ministry included teaching and leadership roles in Sunday School and confirmation classes, Bible Study Fellowship, Women in the Word, Alpha, the International Student Ministry on the campus of UW-River Falls, and mission trips to Mexico and China. Her love and testimony reached many people around the world and her influence will live on in their faith journeys.
Marilyn is survived by her husband of 43 years, Tim; children: Ryan (Kate) and Adam (Larissa); and grandchildren: Evangeline, Elise, Jack, Henry, and Nora. She is also survived by her brothers: Jerry (MaryAnn), Barry (Sue), and Les (Sharon); and a large extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dean (Arlene).
A public visitation for friends and family will be held at Faith Community Church — 777 Carmichael Road, Hudson, WI — on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 5:00 – 7:00pm. A private family ceremony and internment will take place on the following day. Memorials are preferred to Faith Community Church in Hudson – “All Nations House”.
Marilyn loved her family and her Lord with her full heart, and we all miss her deeply. With a faith that extends through generations of our family, we say “see you later”!
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We were so sorry to hear of Marilyn’s passing. We spoke several times over the last few years. I know she loved and was deeply loved. God Bless
John and Carol Meacham
Tim,
I want to thank you both for your relationship with the Chinese students. I will always remember meeting both of you at a coffee shop in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. That one meeting demonstrated how small our world can be in our relationship to Jesus Christ. It’s amazing to me that God brought you two and me to a friendship with Simon that would allow us to meet half way around the world.
My hope and prayer is that God strengthens you and your family during this time of change and continue the love Marilyn had to international students.
I had written a note the first day this was published but due to my lack of tech expertise, it disappeared, so I will try again. I appreciated Marilyn’s love and concern for family. She called me days before her surgery and wanted to know how her eldest brother’s family was doing. I am his widow. We texted back and forth for a long time ( as I am unable to speak) I remember decades ago how Marilyn wanted to be SURE her unborn baby would be safe when she had to have an emergency appendectomy. They were visiting in Spooner, WI, but she insisted on going to a bigger hospital, an hour away. Tim stayed by her side EVERY moment that he could until the staff required he leave. We lived nearby at the time so got to enjoy his company until she was discharged. And YES, Ryan was fine! Her determination to protect her family was so commendable ! Tim’s loyalty was also so heartwarming. She knew she was loved…..
We were so sorry to hear of Marilyn’s passing. We spoke several times over the last few years. I know she loved and was deeply loved. God Bless
John and Carol Meacham
Tim,
I want to thank you both for your relationship with the Chinese students. I will always remember meeting both of you at a coffee shop in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. That one meeting demonstrated how small our world can be in our relationship to Jesus Christ. It’s amazing to me that God brought you two and me to a friendship with Simon that would allow us to meet half way around the world.
My hope and prayer is that God strengthens you and your family during this time of change and continue the love Marilyn had to international students.
I had written a note the first day this was published but due to my lack of tech expertise, it disappeared, so I will try again. I appreciated Marilyn’s love and concern for family. She called me days before her surgery and wanted to know how her eldest brother’s family was doing. I am his widow. We texted back and forth for a long time ( as I am unable to speak) I remember decades ago how Marilyn wanted to be SURE her unborn baby would be safe when she had to have an emergency appendectomy. They were visiting in Spooner, WI, but she insisted on going to a bigger hospital, an hour away. Tim stayed by her side EVERY moment that he could until the staff required he leave. We lived nearby at the time so got to enjoy his company until she was discharged. And YES, Ryan was fine! Her determination to protect her family was so commendable ! Tim’s loyalty was also so heartwarming. She knew she was loved…..