Herbert W. Bundesen — Passed away on June 11, 2011 in Petaluma. Devoted husband of Barbara Bundesen of Petaluma. Cherished father of Ann Aaker (Bill) of Sacramento, Jan Alexander, and Karl Bundesen (Mimi) all of Petaluma. Beloved grandfather of Chris Aaker, Jenni Aaker, Cecil Bundesen, and Augie Bundesen. Loving brother of the late Paul Bundesen. Age: 86 years.
A Member of: United Church of Christ of Petaluma, Rotary Club of Petaluma, Salvation Army Board of Directors, Hope Counseling Board of Directors, Petaluma Harmoneers and Harmonettes and he participated in other civic music.
Raised on a poultry ranch, Herb was born, reared and educated in Petaluma, graduating from Petaluma High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the US Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant JG.
He then attended Cal Poly and graduated with a degree in poultry husbandry. It was during this time, he met the love of his life, Barbara. They married on June 27, 1948, and enjoyed nearly 64 years of marriage.
Herb, along with his brother Paul, worked together in the hatchery business, then the real estate, establishing Bundesen Real Estate in 1963 in Petaluma. In his spare time, Herb enjoyed participating in several clubs and organizations, but it was his contribution in several leadership roles and in the choir at the United Church of Christ of Petaluma that brought him the greatest joy.
Herb was a wonderful man; he will be missed. Friends and family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life, Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Church of Christ of Petaluma, 825 Middlefield Dr., Petaluma, CA 94952. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Church of Christ of Petaluma, the Salvation Army of Petaluma, 721 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, CA 94954, or the Rotary Club of Petaluma, P.O. Box 5655, Petaluma, CA 94955. Private Inurnment: Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Published - June 14, 2011
Herbert W. Bundesen grew up on a Petaluma chicken farm, went off to World War II and returned home to start a hatchery and real estate brokerage.
Bundesen and his late brother Paul opened Bundesen Real Estate in 1963 in the same office it occupies today on Petaluma Boulevard South.
The firm was one of the first in Northern California to merge with mega-brokers Century 21, signing on in 1973, and the first in Petaluma to use a computer, said his son, Karl Bundesen.
“He was very forward thinking in business,” his son said. “And he had a very good reputation for being an honest man. I think people felt that if they were dealing with my dad or this brokerage when he was running it, they were going to be treated fairly.”
Although Karl Bundesen took over the company about 20 years ago, Herb Bundesen still came to the office every day until he couldn’t see well enough to drive.
“He would joke when he came in that he was just checking to see if his keys still worked in the lock and that his trash can was still there,” his son said. “He never really retired.”
Bundesen, whose health declined earlier this year, died Saturday on the same farm 0where he was born. He was 86.
“He lived there his whole life except for during the war and when he went to school,” his son said.
Bundesen, born in Petaluma in 1924, was the son of German immigrants who started a chicken farm in west Petaluma around 1900.
He and his brother Paul spoke German growing up and learned English as a second language.
Bundesen graduated from Petaluma High and enlisted in the Navy just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served on a tank landing ship in the Pacific, toured Japan after the dropping of the Atomic bomb and received a commission, eventually getting promoted to lieutenant junior grade.
After the war, he graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in poultry husbandry.
He met his future wife, a student at UC Berkeley, on a blind date. They were married in 1948 and raised two daughters and a son.
He and his brother opened a chicken hatchery on the family farm. Later, they went into the real estate business.
“He was a very straight shooter,” said Barbara Bundesen, his wife of nearly 64 years. “He was totally honest about everything and highly regarded. And he could be fun. He liked a good joke.”
Bundesen was an active Rotarian and volunteered with the Salvation Army. He loved singing and was a more than 50-year member of Petaluma’s United Church of Christ choir.
A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. on June 18 at the United Church of Christ, 825 Middlefield Dr., Petaluma.
Contributions can be made to the United Church of Christ of Petaluma, the Rotary Club of Petaluma, P.O. Box 5655, Petaluma 94955, or the Salvation Army of Petaluma, 721 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 94954.
-- Paul Payne
© The Press Democrat.
Published - June 16, 2011
Herb Bundesen, a Petaluma business man heavily involved with the community he loved, died June 11, 2011. He was 86.
Raised on a poultry ranch, Bundesen was born, reared and educated in Petaluma, graduating from Petaluma High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant JG.
He then attended Cal Poly and graduated with a degree in poultry husbandry. It was during this time, he met the love of his life, Barbara. They married on June 27, 1948, and enjoyed nearly 64 years of marriage.
Bundensen, along with his brother Paul, worked together in the hatchery business, then in real estate, establishing Bundesen Real Estate in 1963.
In his spare time, Bundesen enjoyed participating in several clubs and organizations, but it was his contribution in several leadership roles and in the choir at the United Church of Christ of Petaluma that brought him the greatest joy.
He was a member of the United Church of Christ of Petaluma, Rotary Club of Petaluma, Petaluma Salvation Army board of directors, Hope Counseling's board of directors, the Petaluma Harmoneers and Harmonettes, and he participated in other civic music.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Bundesen of Petaluma; children, Ann Aaker of Sacramento, Jan Alexander and Karl Bundesen, both of Petaluma; and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Paul Bundesen.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18 United Church of Christ of Petaluma, 825 Middlefield Drive.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Church of Christ of Petaluma, the Petaluma Salvation Army, 721 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 94954, or the Rotary Club of Petaluma, P.O. Box 5655, Petaluma 94955.
© Petaluma Argus Courier.
Herbert Bundesen
Herb Bundesen
Co-founder Bundesen Real Estate
