Gunderson, Sr., Jerome Odell
Senate 1977-80 (District 35)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/7/1923
Birth Place:
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Birth County:
Houston
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
12/19/2016
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Mabel
Occupation (when first elected):
Retailer, Farm and Home Store/Insurance Agent
EDUCATION
Spring Grove High School; Secondary; Graduate
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
School Board/Administration:
Mabel-Canton, Minnesota (School Board);
19?? to 19??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Maxine Wright (married on May 30, 1943, she died in 2001); Marjorie Olson
Children:
Five children: Gary, James, Tony, Jean, and Jerome Jr.
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: education-handicapped and agriculture.
"Jerome was especially concerned with underprivileged people and worked as a volunteer in several areas for the physically and mentally handicapped." (Rochester Post-Bulletin obituary)
"He remains the only DFLer elected to the senate from Fillmore County." (Rochester Post-Bulletin obituary)
"One of Gunderson's successes in the Legislature was his proposal to turn abandoned rail beds into bicycle trails Fillmore County's Root River Trail is a result of his early work on the project." (Rochester Post-Bulletin obituary)
His funeral was held at Mabel First Lutheran Church on January 2, 2017.
Body: Senate
District: 35
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Mabel
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
Occupation: Retailer; Board Member, Morton House Corporation, Retail Farm-Home Store
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Education: Education Aids
-
Education: Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Libraries
-
Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
-
General Legislation and Administrative Rules
-
General Legislation and Administrative Rules: Arts
-
Health, Welfare and Corrections
-
Local Government
-
Veterans' Affairs
Body: Senate
District: 35
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Mabel
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Winona
Occupation: Retailer, Farm and Home Store/Insurance Agent
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Education: Joint House/Senate Subcommittee on Libraries
-
Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Health, Welfare and Corrections
-
Local Government
Articles & Books About
"Jerome Gunderson (obituary)." Rochester Post-Bulletin, December 24, 2016.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.