Gunnar Anselm Willgren

As a young man, Gunnar's devotion to duty and taste for adventure allowed him to travel the world. He worked on liberty ships that took him across the equator at least four times and close to both the north and south poles. He sailed with the Merchant Marines during World War II, served as a radioman during the Korean War, and even had two years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Gunnar journeyed to the United States in 1940, joining the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and becoming a U.S. citizen in 1954. In 1956 he met Johnnie Tindall on a blind date and they were married later that same year. After settling down in Austin, he left the Air Force in 1962 for an 18-year career with the University of Texas, retiring at the age of 60.

Gunnar was an inventor, an artist, and a pioneer in the electronics industry. He had an engineer's mind and a storyteller's heart. He loved to build things, yet he also loved to regale friends and strangers alike with his marvelous tales.

Among Gunnar's loves were old movies on TV, bowling and decorating the house for Christmas. His extravagant Christmas light displays were legendary.

Gunnar is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Johnnie Willgren; son Steve Willgren and wife Judy of Austin; daughter Wanda Madden and domestic partner Salvador Garcia of San Antonio; son David Willgren and wife Leigh Ann of Austin; grandchildren Charles Willgren, Ashley Madden, Caroline Glass, Lacey Lavender, Dustin Madden, Travis Willgren, Erin Willgren; and many nieces and nephews.