Kenneth Gunderland

Kenneth Gunderland passed away at home with loving family and friends by his side on July 13, 2023 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was a longtime resident and business owner in Portland, TX and Corpus Christi, TX. He went to High School in Lampasas, TX where he met his beloved wife, Carolyn Gunderland. Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carolyn, his parents, Leo K. Gunderland and Mattie Gunderland; sister; two half-sisters and a half-brother. He is survived by his loving daughters, Kenna Jean Gunderland of Corpus Christi and Kristy Migl Gunderland; three grandsons, Mason Migl of Lemoore, CA, Gunner Migl of South Padre Island, TX and Tucker Migl of Corpus Christi, TX, as well as multiple nieces, nephews and many close friends.

He owned and operated Gunderland Marine Supply, Inc. for 80 years. His father started the company in 1919 as L.K. Gunderland and Son as a grocery store in Violet, TX and then started supplying the ships when the Port of Corpus Christi opened.

Kenneth served in the Pacific Theater in the Navy during WWII. In 1945, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Carolyn, and they moved to Corpus Christi in 1946 after his service in the Navy to run the family business. Carolyn worked at Corpus Christi Bank and Trust during the day and at Gunderland and Son in the evenings. Kenneth was a hard worker. He added recreational boats and motors, making Gunderland Marine Supply, Inc. a Boat Dealership as well as a ship supplier in 1965. He owned multiple locations of the company around the Coastal Bend. At heart, Kenneth was a rancher. He loved the land and being out in the country. He owned many ranches in Texas through the years and ranches in Colorado, New Mexico, and the second largest privately owned ranch in Missouri in the 1980’s.

Ken was a Master Mason of the Masonic Lodge, joining Independence Lodge and Portland Lodge when he moved to Portland and the Lodge opened. He was in the Scottish Rite, The York Rite and a Shriner at the Al Amin Temple in Corpus Christi, TX.

Kenneth belonged to many organizations and groups. He had his pilot’s license and was a Deputy Nueces County Sheriff and a member of their Flying Posse. He was a member and on the boards of many trade associations such as: a lifetime member of the Propeller Club of Corpus Christi, TX., the Coastal Bend Marine Dealers Association, and the Boating Trades Association of Texas, Marine Retailers Association of America, NAMS, etc.

Kenneth Gunderland touched many people’s lives and helped make them better. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, a loyal friend, and a kind and generous man.

Funeral services will be held at Sawyer-George Funeral Home on August 5, 2023 at 10:00AM. The graveside burial will follow at the Palms Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Portland/Taft, TX at 2:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinson's Foundation or the Shriners Children's Hospital of Texas.