Obituary
Our Momma
Born Marion Joan (JoJo) in January of 1942 to Leslie and Arlene Tomsha in Colorado Springs, CO. Her parents with her and her 4 siblings settled in Gresham. Jo belonged to The Young Oregonian Song and Dance Club, the Glee Club and tumbling team. She graduated in 1960 from Gresham High School.
While visiting her older brother who was in the Navy, stationed in San Diego, she met and married the first love of her life, our father, Barney Campbell. She had her first daughter, Sherri, who they named after her little sister. They moved to the Portland/Gresham area and soon welcomed their second daughter, Leslie, named after Jo’s late father.
Mom enjoyed gardening, hunting, camping, square dancing and bowling with her lifelong friends. She worked for a marketing firm and as an interior designer- decorating model manufactured homes. After the loss of her husband in 1975, she overcame a mountain of heartache and took pride in raising her two daughters on her own. Moving next to her mom, she worked for her as a bookkeeper and construction worker, and a saleswoman at the dress shop in town, Pauletta's.
In 1982 she married Alan Gunderson, who squared danced and worked with her late husband. Residing in Sandy, they celebrated joining their two families together and enjoyed their middle and later years of life together. They both were blessed with not one, but two loves of a lifetime and reminded us of their good fortune often. They continued to square dance, travel with their dog Holly, and were very active in their church and community.
Mom joined the VFW auxiliary becoming V-Pres and later President. She enjoyed her work beside Alan at the VFW, who was also a Navy Veteran. She took on painting later in life and became very talented. She loved sharing her artwork with others, paint days with the girls, and passing on art skills to her grandkids. After a long battle with illness, she lost Alan in 2012. She continued as the Youth Chairman for the VFW for the last 7 years, remained active in many of the friendships her and Alan made together, and took up a newfound love for 5 stray kitties she rescued.
She loved and cherished time with her family of 2 daughters, 3 step children, 14 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren, she kept very busy.
Surrounded by her family in her home, listening to her favorite music and to us reminisce of our memories with her, Mom went into the arms of our Lord Jesus on August 24th, 2021 reuniting her with her past loved ones. She would tell you that she did not have a single regret about her life. She lived through Christ, loved whole heartedly, and raised many generations to continue her legacy.
We will celebrate the life of Joan Gunderson on September 25th, 2021 at Sandy Funeral Home at 11 o’clock in the morning, with an outdoor luncheon to follow at her daughter Kristy’s house in Rhododendron. A private burial was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Gresham.