JOHN GUNNARE

Funeral services for John Gunnare were Monday, January 17, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Armour. Burial was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Delmont. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements.

John Calvin Gunnare, 94, of Blue Hill, NE, formerly of Armour, died January 12, 2022, at Mary Lanning Health Care, surrounded by his loving family.

John was born on July 9, 1927, at home, to Erik and Anna (Innala) Gunnare of Delmont.

John graduated from Delmont High School in 1945, attended college at the Southern State Normal School, Springfield and served in the Army and was honorably discharged in 1957.

On February 14, 1954, John married Lianne (Beck) Gunnare of Delmont. Together they farmed south of Delmont before moving to “The Farm” north of Wagner in Charles Mix County in 1963. John’s passion for farming spanned over a 60-year period before retiring and moving to Armour. John and Lianne also shared a 20-year career in crafting. After the passing of his loving wife, Lianne, John relocated October 2021 to Blue Hill, Nebraska, to be closer to son Les and family.

John will be remembered for his strong faith in God, dedication to his wife and four children, love of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John’s love of sports especially baseball and basketball found them traveling many miles following their sons’ playing college and amateur baseball and later the teams they coached. His interest of these sports continued by following his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John is survived by his children: Debra (John) Rothenberger, Les (Kelly) Gunnare, Dwight (Ann) Gunnare, and Lori (Peter Phelan) Gunnare. His grandchildren are: Aaron, Adam; Justin, Mallary; Rachael, Christopher, Danielle; Jordan and Kate; and he has also been blessed with 18 great-grand children; sisters Ruthie Sharpe and Alice Fuerniss; sisters-in-law: Janice (Larry) Jones and Carla Beck; brother-in-law Ronald (Marilyn) Beck; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his wife Lianne, his parents, brothers: Carl, Burt, Olaf, Harold, Richard, Ted, Don, James; sister Anna May Dyce and grandson Justin John Gunnare.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coins for Change Foundation in memory of his grandson Justin John Gunnare. Coins for Change provides scholarships to students of post-secondary education. Checks may be made out to Justin Gunnare Memorial and mailed to Stockman Bank, C/O Rachael Brabant, PO Box 250, Miles City, MT 59301.