Lynn Edward Gundersen, age 87, passed peacefully on Monday, May 16, 2022 surrounded by his family and clergy after a 17-year battle with cancer.  He had a gregarious and fun-loving  personality, a great sense of humor (though told way too many "Dad Jokes") and will be dearly missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.

Born February 5, 1935, Lynn grew up in Plano, Illinois and graduated from Plano High School, where he played football basketball and baseball.  In 1957, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Industrial Education from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.  There he was in the ROTC, was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, and for kicks, also played the saxophone in a local jazz band while he worked his way through school.

After college, he worked in the admissions office at Bradley University, where he met Allene Traicoff, who worked in the same administration building.  They married on October 1, 1960, and Allene was the love of his life for more than 63 years.

With a newborn in tow, they moved to Wheaton, Illinois in early 1963.  There Lynn began a career with Gardner & White, a brokerage that pioneered taylored employee benefits plans for hospitals and non-for-profits.  Over time he rose to become a partner, owner and CEO before retiring in 2006.

Longtime Wheaton residents, Lynn and Allene have been members of First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton for nearly 60 years.  Additionally, Lynn was proud to serve as Chairman of the Board at Marklund Children's Home, a home for profoundly handicapped children, and proudly served on the Central DuPage Hospital Association Board.  He held the commission of Kentucky Colonel on the Kentucky Governor's Honorable Order of Colonels, and he was an active Elk's Club Member.  He was an avid Chicago sports fan, a Bears season ticket holder through thick and thin, and loved golfing at his beloved St. Charles Country Club.

Lynn had a profound love of family and is survived by his wife, Allene; a son, Todd (Sheila); a daughter, Alesha Wilson (Eric); one granddaughter, Alexandra Lynne Gundersen; and four grandsons, Joshua Gundersen, Andrew Gundersen, Jacob Wilson and Scott Wilson.

A Visitation and a Memorial Service will be held on Monday, May 23rd at Hultgren Funeral Home at 304 N. Main Street in Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Visitation will begin at 10am immediately followed by a Memorial Service at 12 Noon. A livestream of the service is found here .

In lieu of flowerers, the family requests donations be made in his memory Marklund Children's Home, 1S 450 Wyatt Drive,  Geneva, IL 60134, or online at www.marklund.org or by phone at (630) 387-5648