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BORN
1926
DIED
2016
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Dean Tollefsrud Obituary
Dean Tollefsrud, 89, of Rockford died April 21, 2016, in Willows Health Center. Born September 5, 1926, in Beloit, WI, son of Nile and Edith (Beardsley) Tollefsrud. Served in the US Army during WWII. Graduate of East High School, class of 1944, and Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance in 1951. United in marriage to Patricia Wolff of July 11, 1959, in Rockford. He was Purchasing Manager for Elco Industries, Inc., retiring in 1992, after 41 years. Member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, where he served as a board trustee, and on the buildings and grounds and memorials committees. Dean was active in the Center for Learning In Retirement. He enjoyed traveling the world, traditional jazz and the performing arts. Member of the Rockford Ski Club, the Rockford Breakfast Lions and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, where he started the Leadership Rockford program. Survived by his wife, Patricia; children, Tim Tollefsrud of Thailand, Kay (Walter) Walls of Tacoma, WA, Lee (Hope) Tollefsrud of Oakland, CA; grandchildren, Theo Tollefsrud and Cameron Walls, both of Tacoma, WA, Sionne Tollefsrud of Oakland, CA; brother, Gerald Tollefsrud of Rockford. Preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard Tollefsrud; and first wife, Jean Ward Tollefsrud.
Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, 4848 Turner Street. Rev. Matthew Johnson will officiate. Memorials may be made to the church. Grace Funeral & Cremation Services assisted the family. Share a memory or condolence at www.graceFH.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dean Tollefsrud
Sponsored by Grace Funeral & Cremation Services - Rockford.
Cameron Walls
April 13, 2018
Thank you for for all of your thoughts. I really appreciate your kind words you have shared about my grandfathers life.
Tom Hilbert
April 29, 2016
Kelli and I are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and family.
Kelli and Tom Hilbert
phil and Kathy Dierstein
April 27, 2016
Phil and I were very sorry to hear about Dean's death. He was a good and wonderful man. Our thoughts are with you.
Kathy Dierstein
Sharon PENDERGRASS
April 25, 2016
Sorry to hear about this, I hope you are doing well Pat.
Dan Garland
April 25, 2016
Growing up on Clayshire Lane the Tollefsrud's were a central part of the neighborhood and Mr. and Mrs Tollefsrud always had their home and yard open for football and regular horsing around. The Garland Family extends our best wishes to Pat, Tim, Kay, and Lee.
Chuck Picus
April 24, 2016
Pat, Judy and I are so sorry to read of Dean's death. He was truly a real gentleman and we know he will be sorely missed by his friends and his family and the community. Deepest condolences.
Amanda Lewis
April 24, 2016
Dean was always so kind and uplifting. He will be missed.
April 24, 2016
One of the greats! You will be missed, Dean.
Char Thorn
Jim Samorian
April 24, 2016
My sincere sympathy to Dean's family. Brother Jerry was a classmate-Lincoln & East. Dean was a lover of jazz music and I would see him often at various music venues.
Philip Meli
April 24, 2016
A simply wonderful, personable man. He will be greatly missed.
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