| Four generations of family, along with an excellent staff, Gunderson Funeral Home proudly serves your family with the same personal care and dedication that has been passed down from generation to generation. Since 1922, Gunderson Funeral Home has been Dane County’s longest serving single family funeral home. With five convenient locations throughout Dane County, Gunderson Funeral Home has orchestrated compassionate, individualized life celebrations and funeral services in our communities. |
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PETER GUNDERSON
President |
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MIKE SMITS
General Manager and Licensed Funeral Director
Mike is originally from Antigo, Wisconsin, graduating from Antigo High School in 1981. He has worked in funeral service since 1983. Mike graduated from the funeral service program at Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1985, and has been part of the Gunderson Funeral Home since 1987.
Mike and his wife, Cindy, along with their three daughters, have made McFarland their home since 1988. He is very involved in the McFarland community, serving on the McFarland Education Foundation Board of Directors, and is a member of the McFarland Optimists Club, McFarland Basketball Boosters and Christ the King Catholic Church where he has served as an usher, Eucharistic Minister, and a religious education committee member and instructor. In addition, Mike has also been active in Stoughton; having served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, including two terms as president and is currently serving on the Stoughton Area Community Foundation Board of Directors.
In his free time, Mike enjoys coaching youth sports, spending time with his family, golf, and Badgers football and basketball. |
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JIM DUPOR
Manager and Licensed Funeral Director
Jim graduated from Madison LaFollette High School in 1981. He later attended and graduated from Madison Area Technical College with a degree in mortuary science. Jim joined Gunderson Funeral home as an apprentice, and has now been a licensed funeral director since 1986.Jim and his family have resided in McFarland since 1988.
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DAN DEDERICH
Manager and Licensed Funeral Director
Dan was raised in the Sauk Prairie area, and currently resides in Waunakee with his wife and two children. After earning his degree in mortuary science in 1982, Dan worked for the Winn Funeral Home in Waunakee, and later Slettten McKee Hanson Funeral Home in LaCrosse before joining Gunderson Funeral Home in 1990. He is a member of the Middleton Optimist Club and is involved with both the Middleton and Cross Plains Chambers of Commerce.
Dan says that trying to help people through the most challenging moment of their lives with the loss of a loved one and being able to make that difficult situation memorable and positive are what compel him to be a compassionate funeral director. |
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JODI CORBIT
Manager and Licensed Funeral Director
Jodi is originally from Monticello, Wisconsin. She attended UW-Parkside, graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a B.A. in sociology/anthropology, and graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College with a degree in funeral service. Jodi has been in funeral service for over ten years and with Gunderson Funeral Home since 2005. She became interested in a career in funeral service upon touring a funeral home in high school and has found the profession to be extremely rewarding.
Jodi is a member of Covenant Lutheran Church in Stoughton and PEO Sisterhood. She enjoys traveling, flower gardening and fitness. |
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KAREN KICMOL NELSON
Lead Administrative Assistant
Karen is the lead administrative assistant at Gunderson Funeral Home. She started working for Gunderson’s in June 1999. Karen was born and raised on the East Side of Madison, graduated from LaFollette High School and attended Madison Area Technical College. She moved to Monona in 1977. Her most important job was raising her son, James Kicmol, as a single parent. He is now a sergeant with the Wisconsin State Patrol. Karen previously worked as a medical assistant for Dr. J.P. Keepman, M.D. for 10 years and as a lead dispatcher at Monona Police Department for 20 years. She was a charter member of Monona Emergency Medical Service, the first female EMT in Monona, and received her State of Wisconsin and National Registry certificates in 1978. Karen was a volunteer for 10 years with Monona EMS. Her husband, Bob Nelson, is the assistant fire chief in the City of Monona and has been a volunteer firefighter with Monona for more than 35 years. Karen says that they are “very proud to live and work in our beautiful community. We really enjoy being able to help our friends, neighbors and families in their time of need.” When Karen and Bob are not working, their favorite place to be is at their cabin in Phillips. |
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ED BENDORF
Licensed Funeral Director
Ed is from the southwest Wisconsin area and has been a funeral director for over 30 years. Ed has been working for Gunderson Funeral Home since December 2006.
Why funeral directing? Ed says that he finds this profession to be a means of serving families in their most difficult times. His goal has always been to make each family’s funeral experience meet their individual needs and wishes. Having had many personal family losses and funeral experiences, Ed realizes the value of simply living the golden rule while serving. |
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LISA BRONK
Licensed Funeral Director
Lisa graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1996, with a B.S. in mortuary science. She previously was a licensed funeral director in California before she obtained her funeral director's license in Wisconsin in 2001. Lisa resides in Sun Prairie with her husband and two children. She is a member of Door Creek Mother's of Preschoolers (MOPS). Lisa enjoys her profession because of the families she meets and the stories they share about their loved ones. |
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JEFF HRON
Licensed Funeral Director
Jeff is a lifelong Madison area resident. He graduated from DeForest High School in 1990. He continued his education, graduating from Madison Area Technical College in 1993, with an associate degree in marketing, and from Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1996, with an associate degree in mortuary science. Jeff served his funeral service apprenticeship in Waukesha, Wisconsin and then joined Gunderson Funeral Home in November 1995.
Jeff has been an active member in the Monona Grove Optimist Club since 1999. He has served as club president and as a lieutenant governor for the Southern Wisconsin District. Jeff has been a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church in DeForest, where he has lived for many years.
He and his wife, Candi, have been married since 2000. Together they enjoy spending time with their two dogs, Buddy and Bam Bam. Jeff likes camping, antique and collection cars, car shows, hiking and generally spending time outdoors.
“I love my job working as a funeral director because I feel I can be a helpful guide to families through some of the most difficult time in their life.” |
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PATRICK MAYO
Licensed Funeral Director
Patrick was born and raised in Anitgo, Wisconsin. After several years of college, Patrick decided to become a funeral director. It served to be a good fit being raised in a family of funeral directors. He and his wife, Amanda, came to Madison in 2003. They enjoy their old home and their dogs, Katie and Lennie, and cats, Carl and Homer. Patrick loves to fish and you can usually find him on a lake in Northern Wisconsin when he is not working. |
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DAN PLITZUWEIT
Licensed Funeral Director
Dan is originally from Watertown, Wisconsin. He is a 1998 graduate of mortuary college. Dan and his wife, Rebecca, live in Middleton with their two daughters Kaitlyn and Ava. His interests include motorcycling, sailing, sports and motor sports of any kind.
Why funeral directing? Dan says that he enjoys meeting families of various backgrounds, and helping them to find the best way to celebrate and remember the lives of their loved ones. |
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MICHELLE RINEHART
Licensed Funeral Director
Michelle was born and raised in Madison, and currently resides in her childhood home with her daughter, Samantha. She graduated from Madison East High School and went on to attend UW-Richland Center, majoring in sports medicine. After her freshman year of college, Michelle’s grandfather died, which changed her career path. Michelle graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College in 1993, with an associate degree in mortuary science. She worked for Ward Funeral Home in Edgerton/Evansville for two and a half years, and for Joyce Ryan Funeral Home before settling in at Gunderson Funeral Home in February of 1996.
Michelle enjoys playing volleyball, watching men’s college basketball and watching her daughter’s sporting events. She is also active with her church, St. Bernard Catholic Church, the Women’s Group and is very involved with Girl Scouts. Michelle is currently on the executive committee of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, becoming president in June 2009. |
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STEPHANIE VONBEHREN
Licensed Funeral Director
Stephanie is formerly of North Freedom, Wisconsin. She graduated from Baraboo High School in 1990 Stephanie continued her education at the UW-Baraboo/Sauk County campus, focusing her career on being a registered nurse. Her career took a different direction after she experienced the loss of a close family member. The positive experience at a terrible time was made possible through her hometown funeral director. Stephanie went on to graduate from Milwaukee Area Technical College with an associate degree in mortuary science, and began working at Gunderson Funeral Home in 1998. Stephanie currently resides in DeForest with her husband, David, and their children, Jordan and Taylor.
On the beautiful, Wisconsin winter days, you can find Stephanie downhill skiing. When all the wonderful snow has melted away, Stephanie enjoys biking and hiking in the state parks. |
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LARRY AMBROSE
Funeral Assistant
Larry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, graduating from Johnson Creek High School. Larry enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1965, and retired in 1995, at the rank of command sergeant major. He then worked for the State of Wisconsin, Capitol Police Department, in 1969 as a police officer. After attaining the rank of lieutenant, Larry retired in 2001.
Larry says that he enjoys every minute working at Gunderson Funeral home as a funeral assistant, helping out on services and visitations. |
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SHARON AMBROSE
Beautician
Sharon is from Madison, Wisconsin. She graduated From LaFollette High School, and earned her degree at Madison Area Technical College in cosmetology in 1967. Sharon worked and managed a salon in Madison for 16 years. She then worked with the elderly in a salon at a nursing home for over 14 years. Sharon now has a salon in Madison for the last several years. She started working at Gunderson Funeral Home while working at the nursing home. Families would ask her to do their loved ones hair after passing. They felt more comfortable with someone that was familiar with them. Sharon says she feels that she can best serve the families and their loved ones by making a pleasant lasting memory for the family. |
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KEN BERG
Vital Statistics Coordinator
Ken is from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He is a 1960 graduate of La Crosse Central High School. Ken served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1963. He graduated from Madison Business College in 1966. Ken enjoys fishing, card playing, and is a fan of the Packers and the Badgers. He and his wife, Jane, are members of McFarland Lutheran Church. Together they have three children and six grandchildren.
Ken has served as the vital statistics coordinator at Gunderson Funeral Home since 1998. He says, “It is a honor to work with great staff that share the same feelings in serving families, to work together towards a common goal.” |
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CLARENCE "BOB" BYRNE
Bob Byrne farmed all his life, until 2002. He is now retired from farming and currently takes care of the lawn work and flowers at Gunderson Funeral Home. He also enjoys traveling.
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JON CHRISLER
Funeral Assistant
Jon has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 1998, on a part time basis. He has worked full time for the City of Monona Fire Department as a firefighter/EMT since 1986. Jon lives in Madison with his wife, Kathy. They have two grown children that are starting families of their own. |
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LINDA COLLETTI
Grief Counselor and Aftercare Specialist
Linda is an aftercare specialist who seeks to comfort those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Drawing from personal experiences and those of others, she has a deep understanding of the challenges of grief. Linda has been a grief counselor for over 20 years, and believes we all have the resiliency and wisdom to find our way on the journey.
Linda resides in Belleville with her husband, Wayne, and a very cute and spoiled Cocker Spaniel. She has two grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and a step daughter. Linda loves being a grandma to three year old Evan. She says, “If I would have known being a grandma was so much fun, I would have done that first!” |
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GREG DAHMEN
Funeral Assistant
Greg has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 1990. After working in the retail management field for his entire career, Greg says that he was happy to use his customer services skills in such an rewarding way. “Meeting and assisting the many wonderful families has been a privilege and I look forward to continuing to be there in their time of need.” |
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DEAN "DON" DENSON
Funeral Assistant
Don is a lifelong resident of Middleton. After working in the concrete business for 45 years, he retired in 1997. Don joined Gunderson Funeral Home in 2005, and says that he enjoys working with people and helping families in any way that he can. |
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BETTY DAUCK
Administrative Assistant
After working for Gunderson Funeral Home for over 10 years, Betty thought that it was her time to retire. She soon realized how much she missed greeting the public and helping families in difficult times and returned working part time at the Gunderson West location. |
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TANYA DUPOR
Administrative Assistant
Tanya grew up in McFarland, Wisconsin, graduating from McFarland High School in 2006, and now resides in Stoughton. She attends UW-Milwaukee, where she is studying to be an accountant. Between classes and working, Tanya enjoys running, scrapbooking, and spending time with family, friends and her two cats, Mallory and Charlie. Tanya has been working with Gunderson Funeral Home since May 2008. She is the fourth member of the Dupor family to work at Gunderson Funeral Home. |
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LAURIE DYBEVIK
Certified Pre-planning Consultant and Administrative Assistant
Laurie previously worked in Stoughton as a barber for more than 30 years. She joined Gunderson Funeral Home as a pre-need specialist. Laurie says she enjoys working closely with people, and that it is very rewarding to assist others in pre-arranging their funeral plans. Laurie also works full time in the front office as an administrative assistant.
Laurie is very active in the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce. She serves as a chamber ambassador, and is a graduate of Leadership Stoughton. Laurie has two grown sons, one that lives close by and one that resides with his wife in Texas |
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DINA A. OPSAHL
Administrative Assistant
Dina grew up in DeForest, Wisconsin. She was a graduate of DeForest High School in 1992. She had resided in Green Bay for the last 18 years, where she became involved in Funeral Service. She has recently moved back to her roots, and now resides in Deforest with her husband, Mark, and two daughters, Kali and Arianna. Dina loves to spend time with her family at her children's sporting events, down-hill skiing, snowmobiling, boating, fishing and hunting.
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KATE FORD ROBERTS
Grief Counselor and Aftercare Specialist
Kate has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 1991.She is the co-founder of the Center for Life and Loss Integration at San Damiano, a grief-counseling center in Madison. She was involved in starting the University Hospital and Clinics Palliative Care Program in 1999. Her education has also earned her End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) certification, and is certified in Hospice and Palliative and Nursing (CHPN). She has a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in psychology-palliative care and bereavement. |
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HERBERT GUNDLACH
Funeral Assistant
Herb is originally from Oregon, Wisconsin. He was drafted into the Army in 1955. Herb returned home, and played in a dance band for 43 years. He currently resides in Fitchburg with his wife. They are members at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church, where he has played the organ and been a member since 1946.
Herb says that he has always had an interest in the funeral business since he retired from a repair and maintenance business in 1993. He has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 1993. |
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MATT GUNDERSON
Funeral Director Apprentice |
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JOY GUNDERSON
Hair Designer
Joy Gunderson was born and raised in Madison. She currently resides in Stoughton with her husband Jeff and their two boys, Zander and Skyler. As a hair designer, Joy owned and operated her own business for over 20 years, mainly within Monona. She takes pride in her job and receives a real sense of satisfaction; whether it's working on her own clients, or those at the Gunderson Funeral Home. |
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DALE HOLZHUTER
Licensed Funeral Director
Dale was born and raised on a farm near Deerfield, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Madison East High School, UW-Whitewater and Milwaukee Mortuary School. Dale served his apprenticeship with Gunderson Funeral Home in 1959 and became a licensed funeral director in 1964. For over 20 years, Dale co-owned funeral homes in Stoughton, McFarland and Deerfield, Wisconsin. He has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 2001.
Dale is married to the former Marian Christenson of Stoughton. He and Marian enjoy all sports, but especially Wisconsin football and basketball. |
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JUDY KOEPPL
Grief Counselor and Aftercare Specialist
Judy has been a grief counselor and aftercare specialist at Gunderson Funeral Home since 1990. Prior to joining Gunderson Funeral Home, Judy developed the bereavement program at HospiceCare, Inc. of Madison and served as the program director for numerous years. Judy is the co-founder and director of the Center for Life and Loss Integration at San Damiano, a grief-counseling center in Madison.
Judy feels it is a great privilege to work with and support individuals and families as they go through difficult times in their lives. She is a member of the Academy of Credentialed Social Workers and is a certified thanantologist. Judy also holds a master's degree in social work, and is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She is a Red Cross volunteer in the Disaster Mental Health field and was able to work with the Red Cross to help surviving family members of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Judy loves the outdoors, and among some of the more active trips she and her husband and family have taken, she has especially enjoyed backpack canoe trips in Quetico, hiking in the Grand Canyon, and sea kayaking in the Apostle Islands. Other less active pursuits include travel, a love of books, and spending time with family and friends.
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JOAN LAUFENBERG
Administrative Assistant
Joan has been with the Gunderson Funeral Home since 1999, working in the Middleton location in a support role for the funeral directors. She says that customer service, care and compassion are important to her, and working at Gunderson Funeral Home gives her the opportunity to use these skills, along with family core values, to help families in their time of need. |
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LYLE MEEKER
Funeral Assistant
Lyle is formerly of Richland Center, Wisconsin. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 1959, and from Richland County Teachers College in 1961, and spent the next five years in the teaching profession. In 1966, Lyle joined the New York Life Insurance Company and retired after 37 years in 2003.
Lyle has resided in Middleton since 1969; he is very active in the community and his church. He enjoys sports of all kinds and has participated in bowling and golf for many years. Since retiring, Lyle volunteers at St. Mary’s Hospital. He has always been a people person and gets a great deal of satisfaction by helping others, especially in a time of need. |
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Lindsay Pantti
Funeral Director Apprentice
Lindsay is from the town of Gladstone, MI, located in the Upper Peninsula. She is a 2007 graduate of Gladstone High School prior to attending Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary School in Atlanta, GA, graduating in February of 2010. In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys spending time with family, friends and her yellow lab, Josie.
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Stacy Patterson
Funeral Director Apprentice
Stacy grew up in Black Earth, Wisconsin, graduating from Wisconsin Hieghts High School in 2003. In 2009, Stacy received her Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Psychology minor. Stacy resides in Fitchburg and is excited to be starting mortuary school in Milwaukee this fall. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying good food, live music and outdoor activities.
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NICOLE PERRIN
Accountant
Nicole Perrin has been with the Gunderson Funeral Home since 1998. She is originally from Wauwatosa. Nicole graduated from Edgewood College with her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. In her free time, Nicole enjoys reading, crafts and spending time with family & friends.
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RICHARD E. "DICK" PETERSON
Funeral Assistant
Dick Peterson was born on September 22nd in Viroqua, WI. He was a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Dick received his Funeral Director’s license on January 1, 1963. He joined the staff at Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Centers in the Spring of 1976.
Some organizations, memberships and activities Dick is involved with include a 45 year member and past Grand Knight of KC Council #4586; 40 year Honorary Life Member of the Bishop Wm. P. O’Connor 4th Degree Assembly Knights of Columbus; 41 year Life Member of the Madison Elks Lodge No. 410; 33 year member of the East Madison/Monona Optimist Club, and currently serving as their President for the year 2008-2009. |
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RICHARD "DICK" RINEHART
Funeral Assistant
Dick moved to Madison after graduating high school in 1965. He and his wife, Jan, have been married for over 40 years. Together they have a daughter, Michelle, and a granddaughter, Samantha. Dick spent 36 years with the Madison Police Department, retiring in 2001. He worked as a cadet officer, police officer, sergeant and lieutenant. Dick had the opportunity to work a patrol beat, work in communications, special operations, and served as a district lieutenant for both the Central and North Police Districts. During his years as a lieutenant, he also coordinated the field training of all police recruit officers.
Dick has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1997. He has served two terms as grand knight of Council 9082. Dick has also served as faithful navigator for Bishop O’Connor 4th Degree Assembly 1200, and recently served three years as district deputy for the five Madison Knights of Columbus Councils. He is a past president of the Board of Directors for the ATTIC Correctional Facility on Madison’s east side, and is a former big brother with Big Brother Big Sisters of Dane County. Dick is a current member of Saint Bernard Catholic Church and is active in numerous parish ministries and events. He has been a staff member since 2001, serving as the director of volunteers.
Dick finds his work at Gunderson Funeral Home very rewarding. He says that he has found several similarities to his career in police work, allowing him to continue to offer help, compassion and comfort to individuals and families during a difficult time. |
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PAUL SELBO
Certified Pre-planning Consultant and Funeral Assistantt
Paul has been with Gunderson Funeral Home since 2003. He is a graduate of Stoughton High School and UW-LaCrosse. Paul is a member of Stoughton Village Players, the Honorary “S” Club, Christ Lutheran Church, Stoughton Festival Choir and the Stoughton Hall of fame Committee.
Paul and his wife, Sue, have two sons, Dan and Tom. He enjoys running, golf, motorcycling, theater and small town festivals.
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DEBBIE STUDT
Administrative Assistant
Debbie was raised in Monroe, Wisconsin and has resided in the Madison area for the last ten years. She spent most of her career in the building business, employed by Probuild. Debbie has been a volunteer at the HospiceCare in-patient unit in Fitchburg for the last two years. It was during that time that Debbie found her true purpose in life, serving others. In June of 2010 her volunteering led her to a position with Gunderson Funeral Home.
On Debbie's days off, you might find her spending time with her children and grandchildren, going for peaceful walks with her dog, or relaxing while reading a book by the lake. Debbie finds it very rewarding to be able to touch lives, one at a time.
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KAREN THOMPSON
Administrative Assistant
Karen was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She graduated from LaFollette High School. Karen has worked at Gunderson Funeral Home since September 2008. She currently resides in Cottage Grove with her husband, Jim, and their daughter, Kaitlin, and their three Cavalier King Charles dogs, Rile, Killian and Murphy. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, baking and traveling.
Karen considers working at Gunderson Funeral Home a privilege to be able to help families in any way that she can at such a difficult time in their lives. |
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