Obituary
Leif F. Gundersen
After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Leif Fritjof Gundersen died peacefully on Tuesday, October 27. He was surrounded by his wife Inger (Tulliken) and daughters Karen, Leila, Catherine and Virginia “Sam”.
Leif was born on February 12, 1938 in LaCrosse, WI. He was a graduate of Central High School (’57), UW-Madison (’61) Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Thunderbird Business School in Phoenix, AZ (’64), was in the Navy 1961-63 and served in the Bay of Pigs. He met Inger Naess in 1963, and they married in New York, NY in 1964. They went on an adventure, and lived in the Middle East (first in Baharain and then Dubai) until 1978, when they returned to Wisconsin.
Leif loved a good discussion, was a basketball and tennis player, a salesman, a Wisconsin Badger, Red Sox and Green Bay Packer fan, a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a friend. He will be missed.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Mulder Health Care facility for the incredible care they provided to Leif.
There will be a memorial celebration on November 7, from 1-4 pm at the Ballroom at Piggy’s Restaurant at 501 Front Street, LaCrosse, WI. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.
Deepest Sympathy !!
Tulliken and daughters,
My deepest sympathy to you Tulliken, and all your daughters and extended family at this sad time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love Always.
A HIGHLIGHT OF MY HIGH SCHOOL LIFE WAS BEING LEIF’S SPECIAL GIRLFRIEND. HE WAS VERY CHARMING, WITTY, AND IRRESISTIBLE. WE SHARED INTERESTS IN TENNIS, MOVIES, BASKETBALL GAMES, PROMS, LAUGHING AT HIS JOKES, AND SPEAKING BEGINNING GERMAN. YES, LEIF WAS A TREASURE AND I’LL NEVER FORGET HIS PRECIOUS SMILES FOR ME AND ALL HIS LOVING FRIENDS .
Tulip ken,
I am very sad to hear the news of Leif’s passing. He was unique, and I have incredibly fond memories of him. He was a gentleman, and a friend. He brought a human dimension to working relationships which are no longer found. I think of you at this difficult time, and wish you my warmest condolences.
Richard
A sad day, a good friend and work colleague will be sadly missed by a lot of people here in Wales.
I have many happy memories of travelling too & from different airports and up to the Jaguar Xmas parties with Leif I always seemed to do the driving and he did the talking and that’s the way we liked it.
Condolences to Inger and family a great man gone.
Pete W.
One of life’s true characters, I was lucky enough to travel a few times on business around Europe with him for Leif it was always more play than work and the day would always end with coffee cognac and a story.
I am joined by my colleagues from NAS in Wales, offering our condolences to his family.
A Great Guy!
Inger and family. You don’t know us but Leif and I were in the Navy together in VF 132 at Cecil Field Florida 1961-62. The squadron deployed to the Caribbean and Leif and I went on liberty together, I think St. Thomas, but all that is hard to remember. I have a photo or two.
Later when I was at sea with VF 13, and Leif was in a different squadron, he was very good to my wife, Sandy, (We were married at Cecil Field August 25, 1962) and they were friends in a good sense.
Leif was fun to be around, talkative and happy most of the time, and I have always wondered what he did after the service. Sandy and I would have loved to see him but I started looking for him too late, just today.
I would tell him that Sandy and I had two girls. I think Leif may have rocked the oldest, Mary, to sleep at times. I finished law school and practiced insurance law until retiring 15 years ago. We have 6 grandchildren. We have lived all that time in Minnetonka MN.
Sandy and I have talked about Leif today. We feel your loss.
Bob
My blessings to Leif and his family. We were fraternity brothers, room mates and great friends. We went off in different directions after college but I did reconnect with Leif years later in Dubai where I was traveling on business and Leif invited me out to play golf at the Dubai CC. Wow. All sand in those days. Again my condolences and deep thoughts. Rich Vitkus