Marilyn L. Gunderson

Marilyn Gunderson, age 95, was born August 27, 1930 in Plymouth, NE to John and Mathilda Becker, and passed away peacefully August 19, 2026 in Gretna, NE.

Marilyn was the youngest of seven children. When someone asked her brother John, how many were in his family, he said “four girls, two boys, and Marilyn”. Since her sisters were older, she played more with her brothers, so he wasn’t sure.

Marilyn went to a one room school in the country, through 8th grade. She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1947. She was Valedictorian. She said it was no big deal. It was just like her to downplay her own accomplishments while holding everyone else up. She went to Fairbury Junior College for one year on a Regent’s Scholarship. She took a secretarial course in bookkeeping, accounting, typing, and office machines. Then she moved to the big city of Lincoln to work for Continental Bus Lines, then a doctor’s office, and then an orthodontist.

Marilyn’s best friend was dating a student at University of Nebraska and Gilbert Gunderson was his fraternity brother. Marilyn and Gil went dancing to Tommy Dorsey at the Turnpike Dance Hall (south of Lincoln) for their first date. In 1950, the Korean war broke out and Gil knew he was going to be recalled back into the military, so they got married on August 6th, 1950 at Peace Lutheran Church in Plymouth Nebraska. It should not surprise anyone that they went fishing for their honeymoon.

Gil was activated from the Air National Guard to the Air Force and they moved to Bangor Maine in 1951. They were in Bangor until the summer of 1952, when they were transferred to Alexandria Louisiana. Gil and Marilyn loved going fishing in the swamps and bayous.

After the war, they moved back to Lincoln and Gil got his law degree in 1955 and went to work for a law firm in Omaha. Marilyn continued working for a doctor and in 1957 and they built a house on 82nd and Castelar Street in Omaha. Since they were not able to have children, they decided to adopt from the Nebraska Children’s Home, and were blessed with Amy in 1960 and blessed again with Peter in 1962.

In 1965 Marilyn and Gil bought a farm south of Gretna. She moved from their brand-new home in Omaha to the old farm house on the farm in Gretna. They lived in the old farm house for nine years and then finally built a new house with air conditioning and heat. She felt like she had finally hit the jackpot.

Aside from raising the kids, she worked as the secretary for Resurrection Lutheran Church in Gretna. She always made time for fishing, family, friends, painting, bowling, playing Bridge, and being involved with the church.

After Gil retired in 1982, they enjoyed traveling and, of course, many fishing trips. Yes, there is a life-long theme of fishing. It was always her passion.

Marilyn is survived by her children: Amy (Paul McGhee) Gunderson, Wilmington, DE; Peter (Peggy Lippincott) Gunderson, Gretna, NE; grandchildren: Gilbert Gunderson, Gretna, NE; Rebecca (Josh) Bittner, Frederick, MD; Zachary McGhee, Newark, DE, and Nicole McGhee, Wilmington, DE: and great grandchildren: Gilbert and Charlotte Bittner, Frederick MD: and many cherished nieces and nephews

She said when you are 90+, you don’t know if your kids are afraid you will die, or worried that you will live forever. She will be forever missed.

Visitation 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday (8/25/2026) at Roeder Mortuary Gretna Chapel; Service 10:30 AM Wednesday (8/26/2026) at Resurrection Lutheran Church 153 S. McKenna Ave. Gretna, NE.

To view the live-stream, please go to: https://youtube.com/@relcgretna2248?feature=shared

In lieu of flowers memorials to Resurrection Lutheran Church, the Nebraska Children’s Home, or the Breakthrough T1D Diabetes Research.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - Gretna Chapel - 11710 Standing Stone - Gretna, NE - 402-332-0090

www.RoederMortuary.com