David Amundsen

David Amundsen grew up in small towns in the Midwest before moving to Petaluma, where he felt right at home, raising a family and running a successful chiropractor practice for decades.

Amundsen died Saturday at home after suffering from heart trouble and cancer. He was 75.

He worked until two years ago, when he had a heart attack, said his son, Doug Amundsen of Petaluma. His daughter, Julie Amundsen Cruz, began running the practice.

Amundsen always put others' needs ahead of his, his son said. One time, one of his daughters called and said her daughter needed a ride back from an overnight visit in Tahoe.

"Dad said, 'I'll drive you there.' He would just drop anything to help," Doug Amundsen said. "He hated asking for help from anybody, but he was always the first person willing to help anyone else out."

Amundsen was born in Stoughton, Wis., and grew up in nearby Janesville. There, he met the former Gail Saxe, whom he married in 1956.

Amundsen joined the Navy at age 20, serving from 1955 to 1959.

The couple lived in Janesville until 1963, beginning the family that would grow to five by the time they moved to Petaluma.

Amundsen put himself through Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, while working odd jobs. He graduated in 1963.

Once out of school, a friend said he would help him set up a practice in Sonoma County, where Amundsen had a brother in Santa Rosa.

He opened in a building he bought on Petaluma Boulevard and later moved his office to its longtime home on B Street.

Amundsen was a member of the Petaluma Rotary Club, the American Legion, the Elks Club and the Moose Lodge. He also volunteered for more than 20 years at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Petaluma.

He also served on the board of directors of the R.W. Sweat Research Institute for Atlas Orthogonal of Chiropractic in Atlanta.

About 20 years ago, Amundsen began building a portable chiropractic table, one that could fit in a briefcase, his son said. He was seeking a patent on the device.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gail Amundsen; daughters Julie Amundsen Cruz of Petaluma, Debbie Alberding of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Diane Lopez of Santa Rosa; sons Doug Amundsen of Petaluma and Craig Amundsen of Austin, Tex.; and six grandchildren.

The Petaluma Rotary Club and Petaluma High Interact Club are planting trees named the "Amundsen Grove" at Petaluma High School.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Faith Lutheran Church, 19355 Arnold Drive, Sonoma.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Roy W. Sweat Research Institute, 3288 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

-- Lori A. Carter