Charles R. Gunderson

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Charles R. Gunderson, 95, of Ironwood, passed away on Sunday morning, May 23, 2021, at his home with his family members at his side.

Charles was born the son of Charles O. and Martha (Hanson) Gunderson on Jan. 3, 1926, in Wittenberg, Wisconsin.

Charles proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy in Guam and Sipan during World War II. He studied at the Naval Newberry College in South Carolina as a radio technician. He met his one and only Anneta J. Lipe at Southern Illinois University while going for his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Charles and Anneta fell in love and married on April 4, 1947. Four years later, daughter, Candace, was born. Moving around the country for Charles' work in the telephone industry, Charles played an instrumental role in the creation of caller ID and traveling phones.

After living 30 years in Naperville, Illinois, retirement brought them to Ironwood in 1994. Charles and Anneta loved to travel, snowmobiled all over upper Wisconsin, the U.P., and even out west in the Yellowstone area. They did this for many years until the bumps on the trails got too big.

After Anneta's death, he enjoyed traveling to Florida with his family. Charles had a love for cars, his favorite car being a '52 Kaiser Manhattan flathead. Charles loved to work with his hands on many things, building their first home all by himself, and could build or fix anything. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ironwood, and active in his faith and churches all through his life.

Charles is survived by his daughter; Candace (Paul) Forslund of Ironwood; brother-in-law, Byron Lipe of Cortez, Colorado; grandchildren, Alison (Stu) Walker and Greg (Anne Marie) Snyder; step-grandchildren, Britt (Spencer) Slade and Gus Forslund; great-grandchild, Abby Dovin, step-great-grandchildren, Keaton Walker, Eli Slade and Elsa Slade; along with other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Anneta in 2016; son-in-law; Ron Snyder; and his brother; Vernon.

A graveside service will take place on Saturday, May 29, at 11 a.m. with military honors conducted by the Bessemer V.F.W. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer.

Memorial contributions may be made to HOPE Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 662, Ironwood, MI 49938 or the Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.

The family has chosen McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home to honor Charles' legacy of life. You can leave a condolence or a tribute at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.