Gudbrand Lunde

Gudbrand Amundsen (Pastor G. A.) Lunde, the son of Amund Gudbrandsen and Siri Ostensen, was born on May 30, 1848 in Aurdal Township in Valdres, a region in the southwest part of Oppland County. The family emigrated in 1852. Gudbrand attended Luther College from 1863 to 1869 (A.B.) and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri from 1869 to 1872 (C.T.). He was ordained in 1872. Gudbrand was married in 1873 to Anne Marie Mandt. He was a pastor in Koshkonong, Wisconsin from 1872 to 1875; Lemonweir, Wisconsin from 1875 to 1880; French Creek, Wisconsin from 1880 to 1890; and Newman Grove, Nebraska from 1890 to 1892. He farmed from 1892 to 1911. Gudbrand taught school in Dodge County, Minnesota rom 1907 to 1910. He was the pastor at Merrill, Wisconsin from 1911 to 1912, and at Marshfield, Wisconsin in 1912. Gudbrand authored, "Zwingli and Calvin and the Introduction of Significat." He died on October 29, 1922.

Pastor Lunde was installed September 19, 1875 as pastor of the East and West Lemonweir congregations, Greenwood, and Cazenovia. For about two years he had been assistant pastor to Jacob Aail Ottesen at Koshkonong. Although his pastorate began with bright prospect soon there was bitter strife. The Norwegian-Danish Conference stirred up dissension in the West Lemonweir congregation.

Lunde also served the Danish St. Stephen's congregation, holding a Wednesday service each month. On a missionary journey to Wood County one winter, he lost his way in the woods. Not until the morning of the next day did the "frost-bitten" pastor reach a logging camp.

In the summer of 1880, Pastor Lunde accepted a call from the French Creek and associated congregations in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Pastor M. P. Ruh was called as his successor.

Children (known):

Gunnar, b. Jul 1, 1876, Juneau Co; bp. Jul 23, 1876, ELC (spon: Anders Rossland, Lars Osteraa, Lars Bakken, Herborg Osteraa, and Eldri Vinterhus).

Frederik Kristian Clausen, b. Mar 17, 1878; bp. Apr 18, 1878, ELC (spon: Nils Bjornsen, Torbjor Rosseland, Ragnild Osteraa, Aslak Lee, and Lars Moklev).

Contributed by Lawrence W. Onsager