OBITUARY (Topeka Capital-Journal)

Cards to the family
can be sent to:
400 SW Yorkshire
Topeka, KS 66606

Alan D. Gunderman, 59, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at his home in Topeka. Al, the son of Lorence and Ada Hellwinkel Gunderman, was born Jan. 20, 1944, in Fulda, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lyle. He married Beverly Thiemann on July 30, 1966, at Unity Lutheran Church in St. Louis.

For the past 12 years, Al served as Executive Director of Educational Services for the Kansas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Previously, he was the Director of Christian Education of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka from 1981 to 1990, also serving in parishes in Friendswood, Texas, from 1977 to 1981; Conover, N.C., from 1973 to 1977; Boca Raton, Fla., from 1969 to 1973; and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from 1966 to 1969.

Al loved music and theater. He played guitar and sang in various church choirs his whole life, sometimes taking on the additional role of director. He regularly sang solos in church, and in 2002, gave his first solo concert recital, a benefit for the Children s Christian Concern Society. During the past several years, he sang with the Topeka Festival Singers and acted in community theater productions. He also served on the board of directors for the Topeka Community Concert Series and was a member of the Helen Hocker Performing Arts Center Advisory Board. He also loved photography, golf and traveling with his wife, particularly to see his children and visiting places in the U.S., Europe, Africa and Central America.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly; his daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Gunderman and Audley Freed, Nashville, Tenn.; and his son, Dan Gunderman and his fiance, Suzannah Scott-Moncrieff, of New York City. His surviving family also includes siblings, Kathryn and Vernon Koopman, Janet and Walter Bouman, Ivan Gunderman, Sally Gunderman, Barbara and Roger Kaspersen, Carolyn and David Singer, Merle and Joan H. Gunderman; as well as many nieces, nephews and godchildren.

He will lie in state from 3 to 9 p.m. to day at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, 1321 S.W. 10th, where the family will greet friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 S.W. 8th St.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Children s Christian Concern Society, 1000 S.W. 10th St., Topeka, 66604, or renovation of the 1880 Church Building at Historic Ward-Meade Park, in care of Sara Leeth, 124 N.W. Fillmore, Topeka, 66606.