Gordon L. Bundy

Gordon Leonard Bundy of Grand Rapids, MI, formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away on November 17, 2020 after gracefully enduring 20 years of Parkinson’s Disease. He is survived by Janice Tierney Bundy, his loving and dedicated wife of 54 years, as well as three children, Kimberly Salisbury (David), David Bundy (Katherine Richardson), and Karen George (Aaron). He was also the loving grandpa (Boppa) to Eric & Holly Salisbury, Eli, Maya & Samuel Bundy, and Noah & Zachary George. Other family members left to cherish his memory include his sister, Marcia Seabury, in-laws Mary Hengels, and Michael & Evangeline Tierney, as well as seven nieces and nephews. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Elizabeth Bundy, and his brothers-in-law John Seabury and William Hengels.

Gordon was born on November 27, 1942 in Akron, OH. He attended Buchtel High School, College of Wooster (BA Chemistry), and Northwestern University (PhD Organic Chemistry). Upon completing his education, he and Janice moved to Kalamazoo, where they lived for 48 years. He worked as a medicinal chemist at The Upjohn Company (later Pharmacia) for 35 years, retiring as one of the most senior scientists at the company and winning the Upjohn Award for Achievement in Science and Medicine.

Outside of work, Gordon had many and varied interests, but he was first and foremost a family man. He was a caring father, reliably reading to his children every night, never missing a parent teacher conference, playing endless games of H-O-R-S-E, and leading the neighborhood caravan on Halloween night. He threw endless baseballs in the front yard, steered the car on innumerable road trips across the Midwest, and was a consistent and steady presence in the life of his children. Gordon was also a loyal husband, married to his college sweetheart in July of 1966, and her constant companion thereafter. Some of his world travel plans were derailed by Parkinson’s Disease, but not before he and Janice traveled to France, Italy, and around the US. He took fantastic pictures, first shared in periodic family slideshows and an annually updated photo album, and later in life, digital pictures shared with family and friends.

In addition to a vibrant and loving family life, Gordon was an actively engaged member of his Kalamazoo (and later, Grand Rapids) community. He was an active volunteer with the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, where he could often be found operating the sound board at Sunday services, as well as an active volunteer at the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. He played tennis weekly for many years, loved aerobic exercise, and reading all types of books. He had varied taste and a passion for music, from brass quintets to gospel to country to marching bands.

Gordon’s family offers their heartfelt thanks for 3+ years of loving care of him by the staff of The Green House Homes of Porter Hills. The Green House team truly treated Gordon like their own family member, sharing the burden of his difficult final years with amazing grace and courage, and crying along with his actual family at the time of his passing. The daily kindness they showed Gordon will never be forgotten by his family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kids’ Food Basket of Grand Rapids, MI (www.kidsfoodbasket.org) or the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes (www.kzoolf.org). Due to COVID-19, no memorial service will be held at this time.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gordon L. Bundy, please visit our floral store.