Elaine Jo Gunderson

Elaine Gunderson was born December 24, 1944 in Villisca, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Audrey (Northup) Bryant. She was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran Church in Villisca. She graduated from Corning High School with the Class of 1963. She graduated from Stuart School of Cosmetology where she later became an instructor and eventually owned her own salon.

On April 23rd, 1967, Elaine was united in marriage to James Gunderson at First Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Through this union, they were blessed with two children: Greg and Leisa. They made their home next to their lifelong friends Daymon and Jan Abbott in Denison, Iowa in 1975 where they built an amazing community of friends and family.

Elaine was a longtime volunteer at Crawford County Hospital gift shop and worked countless elections at the voting precinct. Elaine was a devoted member of Grace E-Free Church in Denison where she led and coordinated the fellowship and outreach committee for many years. She took special joy in feeding the kids on Wednesday nights and coordinating meals for funerals, showers, and weddings. Her love for the Lord showed in her passion for serving others.

Elaine's family was the center of her universe, and her first priority was selflessly serving them. Her contagious smile and limitless enthusiasm lit up every room she entered. She loved gardening and spent every minute she could in the yard, tending to it meticulously in an attempt to compete with her longtime neighbor Butch. Elaine was an amazing seamstress, a fabulous cook (albeit consistently overestimating quantities), and a veritable expert on all thing's birds, plants, trees, stain removal, interior decorating, painting, flower arranging, entertaining, cleaning, etiquette, child-rearing, and friendship.

Elaine passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, at the age of 78 years, 4 months, and 5 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Kenneth Bryant, and his wife Georgena.

Left to cherish her memories are her husband, James Gunderson of Denison; son, Greg Gunderson and his wife Carrie of Denison; daughter, Leisa Fox and fiancé Clarence Hudson of Waukee; grandchildren: Sydney Gunderson and her fiancé Beau Bjorland of Urbandale, Jay Fox of Urbandale, Vanessa Gunderson of Omaha, NE, Chloe Fox of Urbandale, and Olivia Gunderson of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Sherman Bryant and his wife Carolyn of Denison; sister-in-law, Jane Groendyk of Sioux City; brother-in-law, Roger Gunderson of Ventura, CA; other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at Grace E-Free Church in Denison. Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2023, also at the church with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery in Denison. Memorials may be directed to the family.