Obit: Bundgaard, Lawrence C. (1886 - 1952)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bundgaard, Jensen, Nielsen

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 08/07/1952

Bundgaard, Lawrence C. (23 JUN 1886 - 27 JUL 1952)

Pastor Lawrence Christensen Bundgaard died suddenly at Tacoma, Wash. On Sunday, July 27, 1952.  Friends in this community (Withee, Clark Co., Wis.) will remember him as pastor of the congregations at Nazareth Lutheran Congregation at Withee and Bethany Lutheran Congregation at Wolters’ Corner, as well as the one who was instrumental in beginning the Clark County Lutheran Festivals, the seventh of which was held on the Nazareth Lutheran Church grounds on the day Pastor Bundgaard passed away.

L. C. Bundgaard was born in Trstad, Denmark on June 23, 1886 and came to this country in 1904.  He spent his early years in America working as a carpenter.  He attended Grand View College, in Des Moines, Iowa.  In 1916 he was united in marriage to Marie Jensen of Omaha, Neb.  To this union was born five children: Axel of Waverly, Iowa, Mrs. Agnes Nielsen of Watervliet, N.Y., Carl who preceded him in death in 1947, Arne of Ladysmith, and Victor at home in Tacoma.

He began teaching in public schools at Greenfield, Ohio in 1917 and continued this work in Kalamazoo and Royal Oak, Mich.  In 1922 he entered the Omaha College of Physical Education, from which he graduated in 1924.  For a time he served as professor and director of athletics at Dana College, Blair, Neb.  He entered Western Theological Seminary at Fremont, Neb. In 1928 and was graduated in 1931.

He served the following churches of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America: Cozad, Neb., 1931 - 1934; Burch, Colo., 1934 - 1938; Troy, N.Y., 1938 - 1942; Withee (Nazareth and Bethany at Wolters’ Corner), 1942 1949; and Tacoma, Wash., 1942 - 1949.

He elaves to survive, his widow, three sons, one daughter, 5 grandchildren, one sister in Denmark, and one half-sister in Strandburg, S.D..  At the time of his death eh was president of the Pacific Northwest District of the Danish Church, a member of the Home Mission Council, and a member of the Satal Mission Board, as well as secretary of the Tacoma Lutheran Ministerial Association.  He had formerly been president of the Wisconsin-Minnesota District of Synod.  Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Wash. On Aug. 1; interment was at Nazareth Cemetery, Withee, with graveside services on Monday, Aug. 4.