Alan Cecil Gunsbury, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at Hills Crossing of Nisswa from complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Alan was born on July 6, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York to Cecil & Wilhelmina (Blass) Gunsbury. Raised by his father and grandparents in Teaneck, NJ from 8 years old after his mother’s death, he became independent at an early age. He often traveled and competed on a national pistol team with his dad and enjoyed playing all sports during his school years. Graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a business administration degree, and studying for a master’s degree in economics, he was drafted into the US Army. He completed basic training just as the Korean War ended. He met his wife, Jane at a USO dance. They later married and settled in New Jersey, moved to Illinois and finally to Nisswa, Minnesota, where they raised their five children. After a successful career in corporate sales, Alan and Jane bought and operated The Quarterdeck Resort and Restaurant on Gull Lake for 36 years. An entrepreneur and supporter of each community he called home; Alan believed in civic duty. He instilled these values onto others by example, serving on countless committees and several boards, including the Brainerd Lakes and Nisswa Chamber of Commerce, Region 5 Development, Cass County Extension, Minnesota Resort Association, Minnesota Hospitality Association, and the Congress of Minnesota Resorts, of which he was a co-founder. Alan received the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from the Minnesota Bureau of Tourism for his creative marketing ideas. His passions were economic development, student education and healthy living. He was never too busy for a game of tennis or pickup basketball. Nevertheless, his primary goal was to prepare his children for an independent, fulfilling life realized through helping them acquire experience in the family business. Alan will be forever remembered and loved by his wife, Jane; children: Lee (Terry) Seipp, Laurie (Wally) Leja, Gay (Chip) Zyvoloski, Curt (Catherine) Gunsbury and Brent (Jenny) Gunsbury; 12 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; uncles, Edgar and Lawrence Gunsbury; brother and sister-in-law, Conway & Dolores Chisholm. A memorial service, celebrating the life of Alan will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 11AM at Halvorson Taylor Life Events Center. Visitation will be 2 hours before the service. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, near Little Falls, at a later date. Memorials are not necessary, but if friends so choose, donations will be accepted by the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation in Alan’s name to benefit the Brainerd High School Tennis and Music programs. Special thanks to the caregivers and staff at Hills Crossing in Nisswa and St. Croix Hospice for their kind devotion and care. Caring for Alan & the Gunsbury Family: Halvorson Taylor Funeral Home 512 South 8th Street, Brainerd www.halvorsontaylor.com
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