Chester Dean Gunderson

Chester Dean Gunderson, 79, of Conyers, Georgia, formerly of Belmond passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at his home in Conyers.

Dean was born September 12, 1935 in Belmond to Chester Truman and Sena Caroline Gunderson. He attended country school, later enrolling in the Belmond School. He graduated in 1953 from Belmond High School. He played basketball and loved sports, fishing, and hunting.

Dean met Mavis Pierce in the junior year of high school and they were engaged in the summer of 1954, later marrying on January 1, 1955. Three children were born of this union. At the time the General Mills Feed Plant was being built, Dean worked on the construction of it, being hired on in the plant upon completion. He worked there until they closed the plant. He then joined Ris Van Fertilizer in the office. With the new owner, USS Agri Chemicals, he was transferred to Chicago Heights, Illinois office where he spent two years. A transfer to St. Louis, MO as accounting manager followed. From there he was assigned the Wilmington, NC office in the same position. Upon closing that office, he went to Salt Lake City. UT where he worked four years until he closed that office and was moved to the home office in Atlanta, GA. Dean and Mavis lived in Stone Mountain. Duluth, and Conyers, Georgia since that time.

Dean was a very caring  and loving person and loved by many. Dean and Mavis would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on January 1st. They were blessed to have shared these years and they were good years. Dean's children and grandchildren were very special to him and he was so proud of all three of them. He treasured time with his grandchildren, always sharing his love for his Heavenly Father, nature, animals, and family. His friends became part of his family and he treasured long lasting friendships with many.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father; niece Julie Boelman and nephew Bruce Pierce and great-nephew Brian Eckhoff.

Left to survive him are the love of his life Mavis; children Cathy (Robert) Straub, Susan (Michael) Kuhlman, and Dennis (Jane) Gunderson; 3 grandchildren; sister Bonnie (Richard) Eckhoff; nephews David Boelman, Jim (Connie) Eckhoff, Jon (Dawn) Eckhoff; brother-in-law Jim (Iris) Pierce, sister-in-law Jo Pierce.