Ivan Gunderman

MADISON - The Rev. Ivan Dale Gunderman, age 81, passed away on Monday, March 29, 2021. He grew up on a farm in Fulda, Minn., and was the fourth of eight siblings born to Lorence and Ada Gunderman. He attended St. Paul Lutheran School in Fulda and Concordia High School in St. Paul, Minn. He attended seminary at Concordia College in St. Louis, Mo., and recently celebrated the 54th anniversary of his ordination. Ivan was a Lutheran pastor who served many parishes during his time in the ministry. He was the founding pastor of King of Kings Lutheran in Arvada, Colo., and later in his ministry, became an interim ELCA pastor. He served parishes in Chicago, Denver, Albuquerque, Tucson, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Alamogordo, N.M., and New York City. He also started and was editor for the Rocky Mountain Lutheran newspaper. At his core, he loved theology. He enjoyed engaging people in many faiths and non-believers in conversation about God’s Grace and how God is active and present in our daily lives. Ivan had many talents and passions. He enjoyed playing and watching sports including pitching on a championship fast-pitch softball team and watching his granddaughters play tennis and grandsons play baseball. He loved classical music and sang tenor in the Opera Colorado chorus for many years. He instilled that love in his children with his son, Mark, playing and teaching violin and conducting the NJ youth symphony and HS orchestra and his daughter, Rachel, playing piano. He loved travel and was able to visit five of the seven continents and led many tours of the Holy Land. He was unique in that he was a hard-working vacationer, doing extensive research in the culture, history, architecture and cuisine of the places he visited. He was more than just your avid reader. Every available moment he was reading a book, likely a mystery or theological book. He was extremely organized and enjoyed putting his impressive library of hundreds of books in alphabetical order. He also enjoyed cooking and had a kitchen device or gadget for every possible cooking scenario. His farming roots never left him, and he had significant gardens in every living space (including inside apartments) and climate (e.g. mountain, desert, etc.). Ivan had a witty sense of humor and loved to engage others in conversation sharing laughter, stories and jokes. He would incorporate stories from his life on the farm in his sermons. Some of the brunt his favorite jokes were ancient, and extinct civilizations like the Hittites (Google ‘em). He enjoyed posting on Facebook and had quite a following sharing jokes and political commentary. Ivan is survived by Sally, his wife of 36 years from 1966-2002; his children, Mark (Stacey) Gunderman and Rachel (Jeff) Breitbach; grandchildren, Sydney, Samantha, Liam and Zander; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathryn, Barbara (Roger) and Carolyn (Dave); and brother and sisters-in-law, Merle (Joan) and Bev (Gary). He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Lyle and Alan; sister, Janet; and brothers-in-law, Vern and Walt. A Celebration of Life service will be held at LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH, 1021 University Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2021. Visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Luther Memorial Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Road (608) 442-5002