Donald Keith Gunderson

DONALD KEITH GUNDERSON, 84, PASSED AWAY IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JUNE 8, 2024, SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY IN WEST VALLEY CITY. HE WAS BORN ON MAY 5, 1940 IN EPHRAIM, UTAH IN SANPETE COUNTY, UTAH TO KEITH HENRY GUNDERSON AND BUENA MAE RIGBY GUNDERSON. HE MARRIED SHIRLEY MAE BLACK IN THE MANTI, UTAH LDS TEMPLE ON NOVEMBER 24, 1965. DON GRADUATED FROM CYPRUS HIGH SCHOOL IN 1959. HIS FAMILY MOVED TO HUNTER, UTAH, WHERE HE GREW UP UNTIL JOINING THE AIR FORCE IN 1960. DON SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY AS A SECOND CLASS AIRMAN FOR THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FOR 4 YEARS AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. DON AND SHIRLEY HAVE 4 CHILDREN, 3 DAUGHTERS AND 1 SON. DON SERVED FOR THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE FOR OVER 42 YEARS AS A CARTOGRAPHER MAPPING THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL FORESTS, AND LOVED HIS JOB. WHILE WORKING FOR THE USFS HE MADE MANY FRIENDS AND CONTINUED TO DO THURSDAY LUNCHES FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL HE COULD NO LONGER WALK. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM LOVINGLY CALLED HIM GUNDY. DON STARTED BEING “SANTA’S HELPER” IN 1970 AND CONTINUED THIS EVERY YEAR FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND WAS SO PROUD OF EVEN BEING THE UTAH GOVERNOR NORMAN BANGERTER’S “SANTA” FOR HIS PARTIES. SOME OF HIS CHRISTMAS CLIENTS USED HIM FOR 4 GENERATIONS BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY “REAL” SANTA. HE LOVED THIS SEASONAL JOB! DON WAS FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND SERVED IN MANY VARIOUS CALLINGS. DONALD IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING WIFE SHIRLEY, HIS FOUR CHILDREN TROY [AMANDA] TONYA [KYLE] TAMMY [TIM] TERILYN [DAWSON] AND 13 GRANDCHILDREN AND 3 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; 3 SISTERS [CAROL, WYNELL [GARTH]AND GENIE [DAVID] AND 1 BROTHER SCOTT [KIM] PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS KEITH AND BUENA GUNDERSON. HIS GRANDPARENTS AND BROTHER IN LAW TOM PETERSEN. WE AS A FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE HOSPITAL AND HOSPICE STAFF FOR TAKING SUCH LOVING CARE OF HIM IN HIS LAST MONTH'S. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024. THIS WILL BE A VISITATION AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN LEIU OF A FORMAL FUNERAL PER DON’S WISHES. FAMILY AND FRIENDS MAY COME TO CALL 11AM-1PM AT SERENITY FUNERAL HOME LOCATED AT 13863 SOUTH 2700 WEST, BLUFFDALE, UTAH 84065. DON’S ASHES WILL BE BURIED ON JUNE 28TH AT 10 AM AT UTAH VETERANS CEMETARY AND MEMORIAL PARK AT CAMP WILLIAMS LOCATED AT 17111 SOUTH 1700 WEST, BLUFFDALE, UTAH 84065.

Donald Keith Gunderson

May 5, 1940 - June 8, 2024