Gunnar Asphaug

Gunnar Asphaug, 90, died February 19, 2015 in Littleton, Colorado, USA. Gunnar was born October 16, 1924, in Trondheim, Norway. Gunnar was not expected to survive at birth, so he did not receive the family's traditional firstborn name, which went instead to his beloved younger brother Hans Peter, nor did he receive a middle name per usual Norwegian custom. Gunnar proved early prognoses wrong, as he enjoyed an extraordinarily happy, active and lengthy life. As a young man in Norway he went on a 1, 000-kilometer bicycle tour across the country, and was a Norwegian boy scout. Gunnar, his sister Margit, and his brother Hans Peter enjoyed skiing, hiking and outdoor outings, fueling Gunnar's lifetime love of the outdoors. After Norway was invaded in World War II, Gunnar's father was put in a prison camp. Gunnar's family helped a Jewish family escape to Sweden: an event reported in postwar newspapers but one that a modest Gunnar did not share with his children until they were adults. After the war, Gunnar studied business in Norway and Denmark. He decided to emigrate to America, but first moved briefly to London, where he met fellow Norwegian expatriate Tulla Mjelde. After a whirlwind romance the two were married in London in 1954. Shortly afterward, with his visa expiring, Gunnar took a steamer to California and found a job with Signal Oil & Gas Company. A year later Tulla secured her own visa and joined him. Gunnar and Tulla became American citizens and had two sons, Rolf Gunnar in 1958 and Erik Ian in 1961. The family loved taking extended road trips throughout the American West, spending most nights camping. Gunnar was transferred often and moved his family with him to many locations, including Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas. He eventually became a chief auditor for Statoil. He served as the scoutmaster for his sons' scout troop. In 1975 Gunnar was laid off, and it was not until an anxious year later that he obtained employment: back in Norway, with his native country's national oil company, Statoil. Being laid off was the best career move Gunnar ever had, as his career reached new heights at Statoil. After serving as Statoil's chief auditor in Stavanger, Norway, Gunnar became the head of Statoil's new Beijing, China office. From 1981 to 1989, Tulla and Gunnar both worked for Statoil in early post-Mao China, living and working in a hotel suite and attending countless official banquets. The couple made lifelong friends with their assistant Jitian Ding. Gunnar's thrifty ways enabled him to provide well for his family. Whenever it came time to buy a new car, Gunnar would test-drive the Mustang - but buy the Nova. His careful planning allowed his family to enjoy numerous trips to Norway, Europe, and Asia. Gunnar and Tulla left Beijing in 1989 after China's crackdown on democracy, and retired to Marbella, Spain and Breckenridge, Colorado before settling year-round in Breckenridge. Gunnar enjoyed skiing into his 80's, and he became a fixture in the mountain community, walking around town every day and creating an impressive native flower garden. Gunnar's 80th birthday was celebrated in Breckenridge by several hundred guests. In 2004 Tulla and Gunnar moved to Centennial, Colorado, and in 2009 Gunnar moved to the nearby Sunrise at Orchard assisted living facility. Although he had memory loss late in life, Gunnar continued to remember his family, and he was always in good spirits, with a smile for all. ""Farfar,"" as he was called, especially loved visits from his grandchildren. Gunnar is survived by his wife of 61 years, Tulla Mjelde Asphaug; son Rolf and wife Jane; son Erik and wife Christine; grandchildren Henry, Galen, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Phoebe; brother Hans Peter and wife Randi; nieces and nephews Siri Theodorsen, Peter Asphaug, Stig Bottolfsen and Tove Manuel; and far too many extended family and friends around the world to list. He was predeceased by his parents Hans Peter Asphaug and Alida Hansen Asphaug, and his sister Margit. Horan & McConaty are providing services, including an online guestbook at (www.horancares.com). Gunnar will be laid to rest in Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, Colorado at 10 a.m. Friday, June 5. In lieu of a memorial service, a remembrance gathering will be held at noon on Friday, June 5th at the Asphaugs' home. Please contact Rolf Asphaug at (rolfdenver@mac.com) for more information and to RSVP. To recognize Gunnar's lifelong enthusiasm for scouting and his fondness for bicycle tours with his boys, persons desiring to make a contribution in Gunnar's honor are invited to consider the World Organization of the Scout Movement (www.scout.org) or Bicycles for Humanity (www.bicycles-for-humanity.org). Gunnar's family is grateful to the wonderful, caring persons at Sunrise at Orchard and Suncrest Hospice for their tender care of Gunnar in his final days. ""Du ska få en dag i mårå som rein og ubrukt står, med blanke ark og farjestifter tel Og der kan du rette opp att alle feil i fra i går, og da får du det så godt i mårå kveld Og hvis du itte greier det og alt er like trist, så ska du høre susen over furua som sist Du ska få en dag i mårå som rein og ubrukt står, med blanke ark og farjestifter tel."" - Alf Prøysen