Robert Henry Gundy's Obituary
Robert “Bob” Henry Gundy, 92, died peacefully Friday, June 16, 2023, at the Poppen House Hospice Residence in Muskegon after a short illness. Bob was born at the family home in Muskegon Heights on May 9, 1931, to Ralph and Fannie (Ashcraft) Gundy. A lifelong resident of the Muskegon area, Bob first attended Edgewood Elementary in Muskegon Heights and following his parents’ move to a home on Holton Road in Twin Lake, later attended Sunnyside School and North Muskegon High School. Bob played on both the North Muskegon football and track teams and more than once had to walk the six miles to his home after late practices. In the summer of 1949 Bob was a guest at a wedding reception where he noticed a very attractive young woman sitting by herself at a side table. As he engaged in a conversation with her that lasted through the rest of the evening, little did they know the events that they would put in motion. A year later he married the love of his life Wanda J. (Pixley), and they would spend the next 62 years together raising a family of six children, ten grandchildren and seventeen, soon to be eighteen, great-grandchildren. Bob and Wanda were long time members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and Bob has more recently been a member of First Lutheran Church. Bob worked for more than 30 years at the former American Coil Springs Company and served 40 years as a volunteer fireman with the Muskegon Township Fire Department. He was an active volunteer with the Norton Shores Canteen Fire Service. This organization, made up largely of retired fireman, provides an invaluable service in times of significant fire and emergency events. Utilizing a renovated school bus, they provide respite from the weather for emergency crews battling fires or other emergencies and support in the form of beverages and food as needed. Bob has frequently driven the bus to fires and emergency events over the past several years. He was liked and respected by the many work and volunteer colleagues that he came to know over the years. The love that he demonstrated while caring for Wanda over the last eight years of her Alzheimer's journey was an inspiration to his entire family. That experience led to his active involvement over many years with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s where he raised $78,000 to help research and end the disease. He was an avid and skilled cribbage player who enjoyed many afternoons playing with other members of the Canteen Fire Service, and where, in February of 2020 he had his one and only perfect hand. Bob is survived by his children Rick (Katherine) Gundy, Robert (Jill) Gundy, Pamela Smith, Deanna (Roger) Gundy, Paula (Walter) Love, Steve (Patricia) Bowen; eleven grandchildren, Colin (Grace) Klein, Heather Love (Kerwin) Warneke, Ashley (Jeff) Hartzell, Ryan (Danielle) Love, Kristin (Brendon) Stariha, Chad (Rachel) Gundy, Jennifer Gundy, Roger (Kellie) Gundy, Rachel Bowen, Emily (John) Rogers, Sloan (Abbie) Bowen and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters Marilyn Tanner and Eleva Jensen and sisters-in-law Corina De Young and Rhudell Gundy. He was preceded in death by his wife Wanda, son Roger Gundy and daughter Patricia Bowen, his parents and his brother Ralph Gundy Jr., brothers and sisters-in-law Randall and Delores Kramer, LaVerne Tanner, Melvin Jensen, John De Young, Lloyd and Jacqueline Pixley. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 AM Monday, June 26, 2023 at First Lutheran Church (1206 Whitehall Road, Muskegon, MI 49445) with Pastor Bill Uetricht officiating. Visitation will be held 4-7 PM Sunday at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to 450 Canteen, Norton Shores Fire Dept., 1100 E. Pontaluna Road, Norton Shores, MI 49444-7770. Our family would like to thank the staff of Poppen House and Harbor Hospice who provided attentive and caring support to Bob and his family during a very difficult time.
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