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PGA Golf Pro Bud Tonnesen Passes Away

Bud Tonnesen, head pro at Round Valley, and previously a pro at Park City and Purple Sage in Evanston, passed away September 4th. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, September 21, at the Round Valley Golf Course at 4 p.m.
Scott Whittaker, Executive Director of the Utah Section of the PGA, said, “Bud was a laid back, friendly golf professional who loved teaching the game. He will be missed by his fellow professionals and we extend our sympathy to his family and friends.”
The obituary as printed in the Salt Lake Tribune is as follows:
 
 
Bud Hunt Tonnesen1948 ~ 2013
Bud Hunt Tonnesen was born to Lulu Zita Hunt and Gerald Bernard Tonnesen in Salt Lake City, Utah. He passed on to the next adventure to be had in this wonderful universe on 9/4/2013. Bud lived a very joyful, positive, active life 65 years in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He was a life member of PGA, serving as assistant pro for 5 years at Park City Golf Course, 14 years Head pro at Purple Sage in Evanston, Wyoming and 18 years at Round Valley Golf Course in Morgan Valley, Utah. He played in and won many golf tournaments, loved teaching the game and being a part of the golf business. He attended Highland High school, Westminster College, and the University of Utah where he was an active member of Kappa Sigma.
His passions were golf, working outdoors, nature in its raw beauty, philosophy, meditating in the evening and being creative. He had wonderful ideas, visions and became quite the artist.Things that made Bud smile were a good golf match with his close friends and daughter, Jon Denver, Neil Young, Seinfeld, beautiful day’s outdoors, a good dirty joke and knowing deep down that there is something very powerful beyond this world. Bud loved to share his philosophy on life and shed light on tough situations.
At a young age he hitch hiked across America to seek adventure, wisdom, reality and above all a good story to tell. He has many friends and family who will miss him so much. We all will be expecting Bud to be watching over us and making sure our golf shots get closer to the hole and keep our balls out of the rough.
He has survived by his daughter Nicole Brooklyn Tonnesen and unborn grandson of Bend, Oregon, Step-Sons Kipp Lee and Ryan Lee of Salt Lake City, Utah, He was divorced from his wife Monika D. Tonnesen of SLC in 1987, Nephews Mike Carver (Shelly Carver), Curt Jurgen and Brian Carver both SLC, Utah. Proceeded in death by his late niece Cathy Underwood.
A celebration of his life will be Saturday 9/21/13 at Round Valley golf course, Morgon Utah. 4 pmContributions can be made to PGA of America Utah Section 580 W. 3300 South SLC, Utah 84115