Joseph William Gund passed peacefully, due to complications of Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by his wife Alberta and loving family on July 17th, 2012.

 

He was born on June 22nd, 1925 in La Crosse, Wisconsin to Joseph William Gund and Barbara (Stuber) Gund.

Joe and his twin brother James were the youngest of a family of 7. He attended St. James School and was a faithful altar boy and member of the Boy Scout troop. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1943. He and Jim enlisted in the U. S. Navy. As a promise to their mother, Joe served in the Pacific and Jim served served in the Atlantic, because they lost their older brother Paul at the battle of the Java Sea in March 1942. He received an Honorable Discharge with a Storekeeper (D) Second Class V- 6 USNR. in May 1946. Joe was awarded a Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.

He married the love of his life, Alberta Cuta on June 23rd, 1951 at St. Wenceslaus Church in La Crosse, WI.

 

He was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Men’s Group, the Catholic Sokols, Aquinas Alumni Bowling Team (where he met his future wife), the IAM Machinist Union Local #21, La Crosse Geneaology Society, Blackhawk Retriever Club where he performed in many field trials and walked home with 1^st place trophies with his black lab King, lifetime member of the DAV Chapter 12 of La Crosse, 25+ year member of the Roy L.Vinger’s Post 52 American Legion where his father-in-law was a charter member, and a charter member of the Catholic War Veterans and firing squad where he won First Place State award for the Office of the Historian.

He enjoyed gardening and won many prizes at the County fair and neighbors waited for his bicolor sweet corn. He loved the Green Bay Packers, hunting, fishing, golfing, crossword puzzles, playing dominoes, working on his computer, cross country skiing and ice skating.

He was a member of the first square dance club in La Crosse and loved the circle dances of Varsovienne, a variety of dances, especially the waltz and polka. When ever there was an opportunity, he loved to dance.

He was able to travel with his wife Alberta to Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and Austria where he enjoyed the classical music, drama and dancing in those countries.

He had a great sense of humor and was caring to all he met.

He worked at Auto-Lite for a few years and then at Trane Company. In 1989 he retired as a first class Inspector. He was a member of the 25 year club.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 61 years Alberta; his children, Stephen (Patricia) Gund, Marian Gund (David Roy), Gregg Gund (Susan Stein) and Joan (Paul) Murdock; grandchildren, Andrea (Brian) Kwong and Samantha (Michael) Palumbo; great-grandchildren twin girls, Amelia and Rose Kwong; sister, Dorothy Mara; son-in-law, Michael (Ellen) Schulze; brother-in-law, Paul Cuta; sisters-in-law, Donna Cuta, Maxine Cuta, Bernadine Gund; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, siblings Sr. Corine FSPA (MaryEllen) Gund, Paul Gund USN WWII, Margaret Malay, Laura Koresh, and their spouses, Brother-in-laws Francis Mara and Robert Cuta and God-child Jean (Cuta) Backes, twin brother James Gund , as well as his loving daughter Paula Schulze in 1989.

Joe’s family would like to thank the Hillview Health Care Center, Hospice providers at Mayo Clinic Health System, and the friends and neighbors of 59 years for their loyalty and friendship.

 

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. So., La Crosse. The Rev. David Olson will officiate with private interment at the St. Joseph Mausoleum Catholic Cemetery at a later date. A visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the mass at the church on Saturday. Lunch and fellowship follows in the church dining room. Coulee Region Cremation Group at www.couleecremation.com is assisting the family.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Blessed Sacrament Church, The Michael J. Fox foundation for Parkinson’s Research at Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, NY, NY 10163-4777, or DAV Van Service c/o VAMAC atTomah Voluntary Services, 500 East Veterans Street attn. Voluntary Service 135, Tomah, WI 54660.