Todd Philip AUNE

1974 - 2023

Todd was born on January 20, 1974, in Fortuna, CA while his parents were stationed at the Mad River Ranger Station of the U.S. Forest Service. He was born with "Sisu" a Finnish word meaning "extraordinary perseverance." In other words, it's about enduring in the face of extreme, or beyond ordinary, challenges. As an example, when he was 17 days old he was flown on his first "life flight" to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center for a lifesaving operation. He survived that operation and many subsequent hospitalizations and surgeries throughout his life. His parents, Phil and Diane Aune of Suncrest, WA, are eternally grateful for all the medical help he received throughout his life, especially from UC San Francisco, the Mayo Clinic, and the Doctors and hospitals in the Spokane area. He finally succumbed to a lifetime of medical problems on May 19, 2023, after a final "life flight.".

Despite his medical problems, Todd maintained a sense of optimism he gained from his early life in Penn Valley, CA, where he attended Ready Springs Elementary School. In 1987, his family moved to Redding, CA, where he attended and graduated from Pacheco Elementary School. He then entered Enterprise High School and graduated from there in 1992. His college career started in 1992 at Shasta Junior College and he graduated from Sacramento State University with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design in 2004. His "Sisu" persisted throughout his long college life while he recovered from numerous surgeries that interrupted many semesters he started.

Todd's first job was with the Redding Record Searchlight when he began delivering newspapers. He saved enough money and bought his first Chevy pickup and later became a newspaper distributor to local carriers throughout the Redding area. Along with his parents, he moved to the Suncrest, WA area in 2005. He found work as a Graphic Artist for Books in Motion, an audiobook company located in Spokane Valley, WA. He was employed for 17 years with this wonderful local company until the day he died.

Todd's passions included his love of music (particularly heavy metal), football/San Francisco 49ers, art, and graphic design. He also loved his two dogs which he named Sisu and Freyja.

He is survived by his parents, Phil and Diane Aune of Suncrest, WA; his sister, Alissa Aune of Redding, CA; his sister, Laura Haskell and her husband Mike, and their children Jared and Jenna also of Redding, CA. He is also survived by his uncle Mark Johnson of Chewelah, WA, and numerous other relatives scattered across the US.

A memorial service will be on June 30 at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Grass Valley, CA. Donations can be made to the Shriners Hospitals serving the needs of crippled children.