Everett Raymond Amundson (78) of Queen Creek, AZ passed peacefully on November 8, 2024, attended by his devoted wife, Kathleen (Gacek) Amundson at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, AZ.

Everett, known as Ev or more affectionately by his family as D, Gramps or (his favorite) Grandfather Sir, was born to Dorothy Mae (Robbins) Ebetsch and Elven John Amundson on July 18,1946 in Chicago, IL.

He was a man of many talents and interests. He studied music at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and played in the Marching Illini marching band (Oskee wow-wow!), as well as a variety of rock bands including Fat Water (who pressed an album – check it out on Spotify or Apple Music). His entrepreneurial nature led him to start his own businesses, the most successful of which (and the one he retired from) was Amundson & Associates working with state legislatures and courts to promote traffic safety.

In his retirement, interested in his wife’s quilting hobby, he took up long arm quilting, providing beautiful finishes to his wife’s quilts as well as others, but spent most of his quilting time donating his services to finish patriotic quilts made for veterans by quilt volunteers. 

He was a man of strong opinions and sharped tooth sarcasm that somehow just made him more charming. He loved bantering and people enjoyed engaging with him and the chance to give back what he was dishing out. He could also be serious on occasion, caring deeply for the well being of his family and his dogs. He was king of handing out nicknames that stuck like super glue, whether you liked it or not.

He is survived by his wife Kathy (Ume), their 2 children Kristin (Daw) and husband David, and Nils (Boy) and wife Charlotte; 4 grandchildren Erik (Yak) and wife Aly, Nicole (Coley), Ryan (BR) and Keira (Beulah); and great granddaughter Lilly (ZuZu). As well as his siblings Elven (Wad), Kenneth (Kenno) and Ellen (Enna).

He had a few traditions he liked to follow and the one he most insisted on is the annual Christmas Eve viewing of the film It’s a Wonderful Life (IN BLACK AND WHITE, DAMMIT) with much good-natured eye rolling, sarcastic comments and heartfelt appreciation from his family. His last words “It’s been a good life.” is a comfort and reminder to all of us to choose what matters to us everyday and don’t let anything stand in your way.

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