AMUNDSEN,David Roald, D.C. Passed away February 12, 2011 with his family by his side. He was born September 20, 1935 in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Gail, and five children, Debbie Alberding (Tim), Craig Amundsen (Ronn), Julie Amundsen Cruz (David), Diane Lopez (Phillip), Doug Amundsen (Kelly); and by six grandchildren, Devan, Wyatt, Alyssa, Megan, Madison and Zachary.
David served in the U.S. Navy for four years and graduated Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA in 1963. He then moved to Petaluma and began his chiropractic practice which he maintained for 45 years. He was an active member in the Petaluma Rotary Club, served on the Board of Directors of RW Sweat Research for Atlas Orthogonal of Chiropractic and was also a member of the America Legion for 15 years. He was active for more than 20 years volunteering at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. In his free time, he designed and manufactured chiropractic adjusting instruments and was also a gifted sculptor.
In memory of Dr. Amundsen, the Petaluma Rotary Club and Petaluma High Interact Club are planting a grove of trees named "Amundsen Grove" at Petaluma High School. A service honoring the life of David Amundsen will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 19355 Arnold Drive in Sonoma California on Thursday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Roy W. Sweat Research Foundation, 3288 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Published - February 17, 2011
David Amundsen grew up in small towns in the Midwest before moving to Petaluma where he felt right at home, raising a family and running a successful chiropractor practice for decades.
Amundsen died Saturday at home after a lengthy illness including heart trouble and cancer. He was 75.
Amundsen worked until two years ago, when he had a heart attack, said his son, Doug Amundsen of Petaluma. Afterward, his daughter, Julie Amundsen Cruz, began running the practice.
Amundsen always put others’ needs ahead of his, his son said. One time, one of his daughters called and said her daughter needed a ride back from an overnight visit in Tahoe.
“Dad said, ‘I’ll drive you there.’ He would just drop anything to help,” Doug Amundsen said. “He hated asking for help from anybody, but he was always the first person willing to help anyone else out.”
Amundsen was born in Stoughton, Wis., and grew up in nearby Janesville. There, he met the former Gail Saxe, whom he married in 1956.
Amundsen entered the Navy at age 20, serving from 1955 to 1959.
The couple lived in Janesville until 1963, beginning their family that would grow to five by the time they moved to Petaluma
Amundsen put himself through Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, while working odd jobs, including being a night clerk at a hotel. He graduated in 1963.
Once out of school, he began looking at opening his own practice. A friend said he would help him set up in Sonoma County, and Amundsen had a brother in Santa Rosa.
He first opened in a building he bought on Petaluma Boulevard. He later moved his office to its longtime home on B Street, Doug Amundsen said.
Amundsen was a member of the Petaluma Rotary Club, the American Legion, the Elks Club and the Moose Lodge. He also volunteered for more than 20 years at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Petaluma.
He also served on the board of directors of the R.W. Sweat Research Institute for Atlas Orthogonal of Chiropractic in Atlanta. The institute pioneered the study of the spine with a concentration on the first bone in the neck, the Atlas vertebrae.
About 20 years ago, Amundsen began building a portable chiropractic table, one that could fit in a briefcase, his son said. He was seeking a patent on the device.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gail Amundsen; daughters Julie Amundsen Cruz of Petaluma, Debbie Alberding of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Diane Lopez of Santa Rosa; sons Doug Amundsen of Petaluma and Craig Amundsen of Austin, Tex., and six grandchildren.
In his memory, the Petaluma Rotary Club and Petaluma High Interact Club are planting a grove of trees named “Amundsen Grove” at Petaluma High School.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Faith Lutheran Church, 19355 Arnold Dr., in Sonoma.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Roy W. Sweat Research Institute, 3288 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30341.
Lori A. Carter
© The Press Democrat.
Published - February 17, 2011
A service will be held Thursday, Feb. 17 for David Roald Amundsen, a chiropractor who practiced in Petaluma for 45 years. Dr. Amundsen died Feb. 12, 2011 at the age of 75.
Born in Stoughton, Wis., he served in the U.S. Navy for four years and graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 1963. He then moved to Petaluma and began his chiropractic practice.
He was an active member of the Petaluma Rotary Club, the American Legion for 15 years and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served on the board of directors of Roy W. Sweat Research for Atlas Orthogonal of Chiropractic.
In his free time, he designed and manufactured chiropractic adjusting instruments and was also a gifted sculptor.
In memory of Dr. Amundsen, the Petaluma Rotary Club and Petaluma High Interact Club is planting a grove of trees named “Amundsen Grove” at Petaluma High School.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gail; five children, Debbie Alberding, Craig Amundsen, Julie Amundsen Cruz, Diane Lopez and Doug Amundsen; and six grandchildren.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 at Faith Lutheran Church, 19355 Arnold Drive in Sonoma.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Roy W. Sweat Research Foundation, 3288 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Ga. 30341.
© Petaluma Argus Courier.
David Amundsen
David Amundsen
Chiropractor
