Gunhus, Lois Avonne (Steinmetz) Chyle 1928 - 2020

GUNHUS, STEINMETZ, OTTESON, CHYLE, WETHERINGTON, LEPA, GUNHUS-DANSDILL, CARVER, WIBBEN, MCFADDEN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Lois A. Gunhus, age 91, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Saturday, July 4th, 2020 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2020 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Friday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

Lois Avonne (Steinmetz) Gunhus was born on September 13, 1928 to Leonard and Sigrid (Otteson) Steinmetz in Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco, Iowa. She attended Orleans Township country school through 8th grade and graduated from Cresco High School in 1946. After graduation she began working at Cresco State Bank.

Lois married Herbert Chyle in 1949 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. In 1951 she moved to Norfolk, Va. to join her husband who was serving in the Navy aboard the USS Mt. Olympus. In Norfolk she worked at the National Bank of Commerce. After Herb was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1952, they moved to Dubuque, Ia. where she worked at Federal Discount Corporation. In 1955 they moved to Decorah, Ia. to raise their two children Craig and Crystal. Herb passed away in 1968. Lois continued to work various jobs in Decorah including: Interstate Power, Decorah Newspapers, Federal Land Bank and lastly Bob’s Standard as a bookkeeper for 19 years, retiring in 1992.

Lois married Larry Gunhus on May 3rd, 1975 at Cresco First Lutheran Church and combined families with Craig, Crystal Chyle and Bruce, Kristi, Valerie Gunhus all serving as attendants in their wedding. Lois and Larry grew up on close neighboring farms. Both of their first deceased spouses died at the age of 40, having been each married for 20 years.

She and Larry loved to fish in Northern Minnesota at Campbell Lake, they liked to dance to the big band music of the 40s – 50s and take bus trips. One of her joys was walking with friends and having coffee. She was also an avid crossword puzzle person and enjoyed baking. She was a 55 member of Decorah Lutheran church, having taught Sunday school, Bible school, and serving on the Dorcas Circle. Lois became a resident of Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah in October 2016. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. Lois will be greatly missed.

Lois is survived by her husband Larry; her children: Craig (Sarah) Chyle of Decorah, Crystal (Bill) Wetherington of Cresco; Stepchildren Kristi Lepa of Cresco, Valerie Gunhus of Waukon, IA; Grandchildren: Caleb, Camrin and Chloe Chyle; Aaron and Tristan Wetherington of Cresco; Christopher and Jessica Wetherington of Colorado; Beirgen Gunhus-Dansdill; one Great-Grandson Riley Carver of Colorado; two sisters: Marion (Ron) Wibben of Stewartville, MN and Janet (Bob) McFadden of Leawood, KS; two sisters-in-law: Yvonne Steinmetz of Lincoln, CA and Gelene Gunhus of Cresco; and many nieces and nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Herb in 1968; brothers: Leonard Jr. and wife Adah, Harold (Hoop) and wife Phyllis, Robert (Bob) and Charles (Chuck); step-son Bruce Gunhus in 2013; in-laws: Charles and Alma Chyle, Art and Evelyn Gunhus; and brother-in-law Duane Gunhus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to help with Parkinson's disease. Make a check out to the Parkinson's Foundation and mail to Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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