Wednesday, July 8, 2020 4:18 pm
Lois A. Gunhus, 91, of Decorah, passed away peacefully with family by her side Saturday, July 4, 2020, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial is in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation is from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and Friday beginning at 10 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.
Lois Avonne (Steinmetz) Gunhus was born Sept. 13, 1928, to Leonard and Sigrid (Otteson) Steinmetz in Winneshiek County. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. She attended Orleans Township country school through eighth 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, where she worked at Federal Discount Corporation. In 1955 they moved to Decorah 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 May 3, 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 and ‘50s and take bus trips. One of her joys was walking with friends and having coffee. She also was an avid crossword puzzle person and enjoyed baking. She was a 55-year member of Decorah Lutheran Church, having taught Sunday school, Bible school and having served 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 and Crystal (Bill) Wetherington of Cresco; stepchildren, Kristi Lepa of Cresco and Valerie Gunhus of Waukon; 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, Minn. and Janet (Bob) McFadden of Leawood, Kan.; two sisters-in-law, Yvonne Steinmetz of Lincoln, Calif. 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.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.
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