Ansley M. Spencer Gunderson

Ansley M. Spencer Gunderson, age 30, died on April 13.

Death was instant when her car hit a trash hauler doing a U-turn on Highway 101 in Marin County, California.

Ansley graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1991, attended Wellesley College, and graduated from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Her career started at the age of 13 working in the University of Kansas Medical School for Dr. S. K. Day at his research laboratory. In his retrospective address to colleagues upon leaving KU Med, Dr. Day singled Ansley out as a person of significant importance who assisted him in writing successful grant proposals. Ansley worked for Accenture consulting where her goal was to be one of the youngest women partners.

Ansley married Martin Gunderson on September 16, 2000, in Northfield, Minn. They lived in St. Paul, Minn., Charlotte, North Carolina, and Monrovia, Calif. 

In addition to her career efforts, Ansley provided many testimonials about her 12-step recovery at annual conventions, prison meetings, and other opportunities, as she always encouraged others to maintain their programs. Ansley was an exceptional speaker, providing a source of sparkle and fun at any gathering. She is remembered as a very beautiful woman who captivated everyone she touched, with a vibrancy and quality for life that was exceptional.

From a very young age, Ansley always talked about being 30 years old, which she did achieve with grace and love for God and family that were beyond words.

She is survived by her husband, Martin Gunderson, her parents, Merlin and Jacqueline Spencer of Leawood, Kan.; her sister, Heather Spencer of Amenia, New York; her maternal grandmother LaTrice Bell Kent of Shawnee, Kan.; and her paternal grandmother, Alice M. Spencer of Rockwell City, Iowa.

A celebration of her life was held in Kansas City on April 18, at Pilgrim Chapel. Final services will be at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22.