Grant Ask Gundersen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, returned home on August 12, 2015. Often his posterity heard him sing; “Have faith, hope, and charity. That’s the way to live successfully.” His 96 years of life certainly reflected those words. Grant was born April 4, 1919 to Orson Wilford Gundersen and Ingeborg Johansen Terjesen in Idaho Falls, ID. He was proud of his Norweigan heritage. Grant grew up in the hard years of the depression. He had five brothers and three sisters and remembered lean years of a lot of hard work and not much money. From these experiences, he was especially aware of the “least of these.” He was generous with his time and his resources, often giving money to those who he felt were struggling. He and his brothers worked hard plastering but they also knew how to have fun. Four of the boys organized a quartet (Grant sang baritone) and they traveled around singing for various events. Grant loved to sing throughout his life. Grant and his brothers loved acrobatics and athletics. The Gundersen brothers’ basketball team won the stake church tournament most years. He married his sweetheart, Marjorie Mae Calvert, on June 18, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. The first years of their marriage were spent moving from place to place as Grant enlisted in the Air Corps while World War II was raging. He served his country for four years. In his later years, he enjoyed studying the constitution and liked to talk about American ideals and government. For 15 years, Grant worked as a building contractor with his brother in Holladay, Utah. He built the houses where he and Marjie raised their three sons and five daughters, of whom he was very proud. Grant strived to follow the admonition of Jesus Christ to love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind, and strength and to love his neighbor. He was devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, loved to study the gospel, and served in the bishopric twice, stake high council, and as a temple worker in the Jordan River Temple for eighteen years. Grant loved his family. He taught his children how to work hard and the importance of getting along with each other. He loved to hear his daughters sing and would often join in. His family will remember his strong will, honesty, and his love of fun activities and contests. He and Marjie were great supporters of athletic events of their children and grandchildren. Grandchildren will fondly remember “Grandpa Day” activities. As age made it harder for his athletic body to do what he loved, we will remember his devotion to Marjie, his patience, and his positive attitude through health trials. He never complained. His proudest accomplishments were his eight children: Sherry (Earl) Larson, Vicky (Ernie) Matthews, Sandy (Steve) Allred, Kristy (Craig) Bleazard, Jerry (Audrey) Gundersen, Cindy (Edward) Cole, Kim (Tammy) Gundersen, and Tarvy (Priscilla) Gundersen. He has 47 grandchildren, 135 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. We are very proud to be counted among his surviving posterity and will miss him dearly. He is also survived by his brothers David and John. Grant was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marjie, daughter Sherry, his parents: Orson and Ingeborg, brothers: Orson, Thomas, and Joseph, and sisters: Edith, Dorothy, and Mary. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Grantsville Stake Center, 550 E Durfee St. Friends and family may call from 6-8 p.m., Friday, August 14 at the Grantsville Stake Center. The family will also greet friends 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to the Saturday service at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be in the Grantsville City Cemetery.
