J. Brooks Gunderson

Gunderson, J. Brooks
J. Brooks Gunderson, 77, of Westlake Village, CA passed away July 11, 2009 after a eight month battle with bladder cancer. Born September 26, 1931, to Ralph and Josephine (Schiltz) in Centerville S.D., he attended The University of South Dakota graduating in 1953. He then proudly served in the 82nd Airborne Division in the U.S. Army. Married Mary Jane (Bowser) of Le Seuer, Minnesota in 1956 (deceased December 3rd, 1984) and is survived by five children: John of Phoenix, AZ, Brooks of Plymouth, MN, Nadine of Phoenix, AZ, Mark(Sarah Rodhouse) of Lake Forest, IL and Colleen (Charlie) Schlatter of California. He is also survived by five loving grandchildren who brought him great joy; Julia, Quinn and Beck Schlatter of Oak Park, California and J. Bridger and Brier Gunderson of Lake Forest, IL. He is also survived by his brother David (Betty) of Placentia, CA and was preceded in death by his brother Ted (LaVonne) of Sioux Falls, SD. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Patricia (Bowser) Keup and Kathleen (Bowser) Gjerde of Minnesota. He is also survived by his 17 nieces and nephews. After serving in the Army, Brooks worked for Arthur Anderson in Minneapolis, MN where all five of his children were born. In 1967, Brooks and Mary moved the family to Northbrook, IL after he accepted a job with City Products Corporation in Des Plaines, IL. He held several titles while at City Products and its successor companies culminating in his being named Vice President- Treasurer of Household Merchandising, Inc. In 1986 Brooks was asked to join the finance team at the Vons Grocery Store chain. Brooks accepted and was relocated to California where he served several more roles including CFO of Von's dairy division and Vice President of Risk Management. The University of South Dakota School of Business once named him the alumni of the year in recognition of all of his success. He retired in 1994 and happily spent the rest of his days in Southern California enjoying many rounds of golf, spending time with his family and friends, and playing with his grandchildren. Having lived a large portion of his life in the Midwest, Brooks often stated he was happy with the fact that he would never again have to pick up a snow shovel. A Funeral Mass was held in Westlake Village CA at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church on July 14, 2009. Burial was Friday, July 17th at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be named to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society c/o J. Brooks Gunderson (LLS), 6033 West Century Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90045. For Information please call Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home & Crematorium (847) 678-1950. www.sax-tiedemann.com