Obituary of Gunnard E. Erickson

Gunnard E. "Gunny" Erickson, 86, of 10 Rowley Court WE, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday (July 4, 2009) at the Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center. A longtime area resident, he was born in Jamestown on April 12, 1923, a son of the late Stein and Lillie Loberg Erickson. He graduated from Jamestown High School in 1941 and the Indiana Technical Institute in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1949. Gunny was also a Sergeant in the US Army during World War II. A mechanical engineer, he had been employed by Croft Steel in Jamestown, owned and operated Lake City Glass & Glazing here, and retired after 25 years with H.H. Robertson Construction. He was also very involved in the Scandinavian Studies Program at JCC where he taught Norwegian Chip Carving Classes for many years and in October 2005 received the program's Award of Merit. Gunny was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church where he belonged to the choir and served in many leadership positions. He was active in the American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation and had served as treasurer and chaplain of the Celoron Senior Citizens. Surviving are two daughters, Susan Smith of West Mifflin, PA and Dianne (Ken) Carlson of Bridgman, MI; five grandchildren: Greg (Amy) Smith of Philadelphia, PA, Paul (Joannie) Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, Timothy Smith of West Mifflin, Erin (Paul) Holte of Rosemount, MN, and Brook Carlson of Sherman Oaks, CA; twin great-grandchildren, Noah and Gracie Smith; three brothers: S. Lawrence "Larry" (Joyce) Erickson of Jamestown, Einard "Ike" (Reva) Erickson of Orlando, FL and Ernest "Ernie" (Doris) Erickson of Jamestown; a sister-in-law, Marion Linn of Jamestown; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Linn Erickson, whom he married May 18, 1946 and who died May 22, 1999. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Baptist Church. The Rev. Jerry McCann will officiate. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 40 Hallock St., Jamestown, NY 14701; or the Scandinavian Studies Program at Jamestown Community College, 525 Falconer St., Jamestown, NY 14701.