Gunnar grew up in Phoenix Arizona. He and wife Nancy were married for 30 years and have 3 sons; Dustin 26, Dallas 24 and Drew 23. They also have a 14 year old daughter Katie and one granddaughter named Quinn. Gunnar graduated from Arizona State University in 1995 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wildlife Habitat Management. While attending college, Gunnar was employed by the Department as a seasonal radio room dispatcher. In 1997, Gunnar was hired as a Wildlife Manager and assigned to the Henderson District (Units 15B/C) in the Kingman Region. He remained there his entire career. Gunnar served as a mentor for many incoming wildlife managers in the sector. He took new wildlife managers under his wing and made polished professionals out of them, just in time for them to lateral to other parts of the state. Many Regional Supervisors and Field Supervisors owe Gunnar a debt of gratitude for conducting the training grounds for officers throughout the state. Gunnar also served as a Wildlife Manager Training Officer on several occasions. As a WMTO, Gunnar was responsible for training new wildlife managers with respect to practical field applications. Gunnar had new wildlife managers assigned to him for weeks at a time, explaining all aspects of the wildlife manager job, including game management, watercraft and OHV law enforcement, information and education, and fisheries management to ensure that once assigned to their new district, these new wildlife managers would be better prepared for their position. Gunnar took to this important task naturally; his positive attitude and patient nature made nervous new wildlife managers feel more at ease when in the field in a law enforcement capacity for the first time. Gunnar’s strong work ethic allowed him to excel in all aspects of wildlife conservation, but he had a special passion for law enforcement. Gunnar was the primary watercraft law enforcement officer for Lake Mead, and for Lake Mohave from Willow Beach to Cottonwood Cove. He built valuable relationships with federal and state law enforcement agencies in the area, and became extremely well known for his dedication to watercraft enforcement and public safety. He developed into one of the Department’s foremost OUI detection and enforcement instructors, and routinely passed his knowledge, experience and expertise on to other officers in the agency. Here are some facts about Gunnar that will make you smile. Gunnar had an infectious, contagious sense of humor, sometimes like a small boy’s. He liked to poke fun, and reminisce at the funny events of the past and setting his friends and peers up for a good roast when he could arrange it. Gunnar was not just liked by everyone, he was considered family. At Regional events, he was surrounded by his friends and peers. People gravitated to him, because he made people laugh and feel at ease – they wanted to be where he was. Gunnar did not have to smile all the time because he made everyone around him smile. There were no bad days with Gunnar; even at your worst you became your best in his presence. Gunnar wasn’t just the funny guy in the room. He was a true friend and had the kindest heart you could ever encounter. The people around him mattered and a harsh word has never been uttered about Gunnar. Well, with the possible exception of those who were on the receiving end of a Gunnar prank. He loved his magnet. To those that did not know this, he carried a small cylindrical magnet on the hood of his truck for as long as most of his peers could remember. Many of us would hide it from him, or move it to someplace unexpected. We thought it was funny, and he did too. But he always moved it back to his appointed place. Young officers respected and looked up to him – emulating both his professionalism, and sense of humor – sometimes to the chagrins of his Supervisor. One did not dare leave their vehicle, work or otherwise, unlocked in his presence. The punishment for doing so could involve anything from baby powder in your vents to Vaseline under your door handle. Gunnar was a man of sincere faith, a conservative student of politics and world economics, a true patriot thru and thru. He loved his wife, his boys, his daughter and his baby grand-daughter. We know how much he treasured them - his eyes would light up when he spoke of them. He was selfless with his time – always willing to give of himself when his time was needed most. He called himself, “The Legend – Loved by all women, most men and all children.” He actually was… He was expert in his district for the resources that he managed, relied on heavily both internally and by partner agencies for the historic knowledge he had amassed. He loved his racing, loved Jeff Gordon, and fantasy racing with his family and peers. He often led the series, even won one of the seasons, was seldom outside the top 5, often crowing with good nature, razzing those he was leading. It was always good-natured fun. Gunnar loved bargains – free tickets to baseball games, races, t-shirts and swag. He especially loved to take photos of his treasures found alongside the road – sending them to his peers, gloating at his good fortune (life jackets, coolers, lawn chairs – or any other such treasure). The young officers in the sector began to do the same. He loved 4-wheeling and hunting with his family. His was at home patrolling on the lake or on the river. He absolutely loved his new ¾ ton truck, being excited to bring it home, drive it to Kingman, and show it off to everyone! He always planned to make his masterpiece – a Frankenstein combination of truck chassis and corvette power plant. Some thought that it would never be tackled… He looked forward to this project in retirement - a possible project with the boys! He mentored new employees – and was relied upon by those who were seasoned. He was the type of friend, that when they pass, you know instinctively that there will never be another that can fill the void left in his wake, the type of friend that will be fondly remembered – but likely with those memories will be tears – a bittersweet mixture of both joy and sorrow. Joy at the memories he helped create, but great sorrow in his absence. He was our friend and family – he was loved and he will always be remembered…