Obituaries » Ardell W Lundgren
Ardell W Lundgren
August 27, 1932 - June 17, 2021
Ardell (Del) Lundgren was born August 27, 1932, in his rural home near Salem, South Dakota, to J. W. and Alma Lundgren. With his rural upbringing, to his last days he enjoyed visiting with farmers and keeping up with current information regarding their crops. He graduated from Salem High School in 1950, then immediately joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He served his entire four-year enlistment on a destroyer escort as a sonar man.
Ardell and Vivian were high school sweethearts and were married in 1952 while on his boot leave. Vivian soon joined him in Honolulu, Hawaii, where they lived for nearly three years. He always said they had a 3-year honeymoon there and he was right. When they returned home at the end of his enlistment, they brought with them their firstborn, nearly one-year-old Darla, the apple of his eye.
He immediately started classes at Iowa State College on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Industrial Administration. By that time, sweet Lisa joined the family. Their following years included many moves as well as many adventures, during which two more beautiful daughters, Betty and Julie, joined their exclusive “Four Daughter Club”. Del adored being their father and his love and kindness shows in each of their personalities.
Their last move was 17 years ago when they moved to Ankeny to be near three of the four girls and their families. It was one of the wisest decisions they had ever made as it allowed them to enjoy many of their 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Throughout his life, Del enjoyed many talents and hobbies that kept him busy; fishing, traveling, wintering in Arizona and enjoying the desert, astronomy, reading, following Iowa State sports, singing, oil painting, wood carving and most of all – a lot of laughing and loving with family and friends.
Del was the sweetest, kindest, funniest, most loved father and husband. He will be so dearly missed, but so long remembered. He joined his Heavenly Father, as well as many loved ones who have left us over the years, on June 17th, 2021. We will always love you, Ardell.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian; daughters, Darla (John) Newton, Lisa (Jim) Baldridge, Betty (Jon) Anderson and Julie Wyman; grandchildren, David (Tina) Newton, Jeni (Matt) Thompson, Mark Newton, Shannon Baldridge, Sean (Maria) Baldridge, Kristin Baldridge, Tyler Anderson, Julia (Andrew) Dobbins, Myles Anderson, Annalee (Ryan) Babcock, and Nick Wyman; great-grandchildren, Jacob Newton, Luke, Grant, Mazie and Isaac Thompson, Lucy Baldridge, Maverick and Marley Anderson, Henley and Blake Dobbins, and Grace and Logan Babcock; and three nieces, Charlotte (Joe) Akkerman, Sandra (Bill) Lind and Chelly (Dave) Hoody.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Arlene Jackson; mother-in-law, Rena Eastman; and sweet grand-daughter-in-law, Kaytie Anderson.
A memorial service for Del will be held at the Palestine Lutheran Church (1375 Highway 210 in Huxley, Iowa) at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Pastor Eric Klimpel will officiate. The family would love for you to attend and help them celebrate his wonderful life.
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