Larry Guenther

November 4, 2023

In Loving Memory ~

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Larry Guenther on November 4th, 2023.

He is survived by his loving wife, Fawnie Guenther; Children Karen (Doug), Tom (Ingrid), Rick (Marilyn), Sandra (Peter), and Janalee; Grandchildren, Kelsey (Artur), Heather, Brent (Jessica), Loeska, Bryan, Janneke (Sean), Jasmin (Jordan), Jessie (Seb), and Sophie; Great grandchildren, Wyatt, Otto, Carmela and Emilia; Brother, Roy; Sisters, Emily and Carol and many loving nieces and nephews.

Dad's curiosity, love of adventure, and thirst for lifelong learning have always led him down the road less traveled. He was the eldest child of five born in Winkler, Manitoba, to Jacob and Erna Guenther. Growing up in Winkler, he learned the art of farming, playing the cello, and dismantling anything that he could get his hands on.

Dad met Mom in Winnipeg while earning their teaching degrees at adjacent universities. They were married in Winnipeg in 1954 and then moved to Flin Flon, Manitoba, where they began raising our family and met a crew of lifelong friends with whom they never lost touch.

In 1964, with five kids in tow, they moved us across Canada and landed in Vernon, BC, where Dad became a much-loved teacher at Fulton School. Both Mom and Dad taught Math at Fulton until they retired in 1987.

With Mom at the helm, Dad was game for any adventure with our family and friends. Summers were split between traveling, camping, and floating on Larry-made devices at our rustic cabin that Dad built on Okanagan Lake. Dad's rituals included walking the campgrounds serenading fellow campers with his banjo, ignoring all signage at tourist attractions that said do not enter, and unintentionally traveling on unmarked roads because he refused to ever ask for directions.

Winters involved packing the entire family into our long station wagon and fishtailing up to Silver Star, where Mom and Dad would let us loose on the slopes. For those who know our Guenther clan, there was never a dull moment at our home. Mom and Dad always advocated for an inclusive, love-filled home that welcomed all of our friends, and more often than not, Dad was the instigator when small gatherings turned into raging parties.

He was proud of our family, and he made sure we all knew with a tearful, heartfelt toast at every long-table family celebration. We're going to miss those toasts. Dad was a bit of a creative genius. He played cello in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and later banjo at every social gathering, but his real creative genius was most evident in his "Larry" approach to problem-solving any task in the most unconventional yet surprisingly effective method imaginable.

Larry will be fondly remembered for his infectious, joyful smile, thirst for adventure, mischievous twinkle in his bright blue eyes, and his huge, kind, loving heart. His beautiful spirit lives on in all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who are all determined to keep the Joy of Larry alive forever.

A celebration of Larry's life will be held on Sunday, Dec 3rd, 2023, at 3 pm at the Vernon Yacht Club.