Donald Ludvigson

DONALD LUDVIGSON

Cedar Rapids

Donald Merrill Ludvigson, 72, of Burnsville, Minn., passed away after a brief illness on Feb. 27, 2015, at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, Minn. A Cele-bration of Life will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories at 2 p.m. April 18. Inurnment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery (4200 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402).

Don was born in Minneapolis to Merrill and Florence (Johnson) Ludvigson on Jan. 6, 1943, and moved to Cedar Rapids in July 1949 with his family. He graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington High School in 1961 and the University of Iowa, with a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1967. Don worked for a short time at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, then moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and later to Apple Valley, Minn. He loved the Twin Cities area and ultimately settled in Burnsville in 1979.

Don worked for a variety of companies in the area over the next 36 years, including Sperry-Rand, ADC, Seagate, Entegee and Questar.

He was a member of Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church while in Cedar Rapids and later faithfully followed the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church's radio services while in the Twin Cities.

Don is survived by his father, Merrill Ludvigson of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Janis (Bob) Harrison of Cedar Rapids; his brother, Greg (Laurie Comstock) Ludvigson of Baldwin City, Kan.; four nieces; one nephew; and one grand-nephew.

Don was predeceased by his mother, Florence Ludvigson, on Aug. 26, 2009; and a special friend, Bobbie Fawbush, of Minneapolis, in 2013.

Don was a sweet and gentle soul, a loyal son and friend, and, quite possibly, the most avid and dedicated fan ever of The Whitesidewalls, a 1950s rock 'n' roll band well known throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding states. Don rarely missed a performance of the band over the past 36 years and also was a devoted patron of the Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee, Minn., as well as a very loyal customer of The Old Country Buffet and Byerly's in Burnsville.

Don will be truly missed, and the family would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Fairview Medical Clinic in Minneapolis and to the staff of Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul for their kind, competent and loving care of Don during his illness.

Memorials in Don's name may be sent to Our Lady of Peace Home, Development Office, 2076 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104. (http://ourladyofpeace mn.org/giving/donate-online/)