Victor C. Dunder, Jr., 80, of Tofte, Minn., died on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais, surrounded by his family. Vic was born on Nov. 6, 1926 in Stillwater, Minn., to Jubie and Victor Dunder, Sr. He married the former Patricia Orr on Sept. 6, 1947. Vic graduated from Duluth Central High School. He then enlisted in the Navy and served during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He spent nine years in the Navy working on destroyers and aircraft carriers as a boilerman. After leaving the Navy he began working for Duluth and Aurora steam electric plants of the Minnesota Power & Light Company. He graduated from the International Correspondence School in Power Plant Engineering in 1955 and joined Erie Mining Company's Taconite Harbor facility as shift foreman in 1957. He was promoted to Results Engineer in 1963 and in 1973 he became Plant Superintendent until his retirement in 1989, he later returned as a consultant for the re-opening of the Taconite Harbor Facility. Vic was a member of the Arrowhead Electric Board and the North Shore Hospital Board, while on these boards he was credited with procuring the loan for the North Shore Senior Care Center in Grand Marais. Throughout his active live he was an avid hockey player, skier, snowmobiler, fisherman, golfer and pilot. He loved spending time with family and friends and having coffee with friends at the Tofte dump. Surviving are his three daughters, Diane (Phil) Fernjack of Superior, Wisc., Mary Beth (Larry) Olsen of Hermantown, Minn., and Patti Dunder of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; son, Tom Dunder of Hermantown, Minn.; four grandchildren, Brian (Missy) Zuck of Esko, Minn., Jody (Josh Ohrn) Zuck of Duluth, Jaime Cushman of Murrieta, Calif., and Jeff Cushman of Superior, Wisc.; three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Hannah, and Halle; two sisters, Willa (Bob) Kohl and Beth Brown of Sun Lakes Ariz.; a special friend, Mildred Thoreson of Grand Marais; and his dog and loyal companion, Megan. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; and a brother-in-law, Cy Brown. VISITATION:4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22, p.m. in the Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte and will resume Friday at 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service in the Church. The committal prayers will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth with Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Brian and Bill Zuck, D. C. Olsen, Larry Olsen, Phil Fernjack, Bob Cushman, Tim Norman and Josh Ohrn. If desired, memorials in Victor's name may be made to the North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais. Downs Funeral Home, corner of Ogden Ave. & 19th St., Superior, Wisc., is assisting the family with arrangements.
Published in the Duluth News Tribune on 3/21/2007.