Vern Guenther was a big supporter of the AOC Windy City golf outings and scholarship fundraisers. He passed away one day shy of his 91st birthday. His wife Jean is the sister of the second scholarship honoree, Bob Kranz. The Guenther family has been a significant part of the Windy City chapter for many, many decades.
Vernon Guenther, 90, passed away peacefully in his home in Palatine on March 28. Vern was born on March 29, 1933, the youngest of 10 children, to Arthur and Anna (nee Roehl) Guenther of Arlington Heights.
He grew up on the family farm in Palatine, where he learned the importance of hard work and a love for growing plants. Most years in his retirement, he would plant tomato seeds and nurture them until the time came to give them away to family and friends. Vern attended Palatine High School, where he made many lifelong friends and enjoyed playing sports, especially basketball. There he also met his love and future wife, Jean Kranz, after her family moved from Des Plaines to Palatine.
Vern and Jean graduated from Palatine High School in 1951 and were married in 1954. They lived their entire adult lives in the Palatine area. After high school, Vern worked as a truck driver. First, he worked for many years delivering ice cream for Dean Foods to Jewel food stores and other smaller stores. His other job was with the Meyer Company delivering ready-mix concrete to construction sites.
Vern loved to bowl on Thursday nights and was an avid golfer for many years. He also loved to watch all of the Chicago sports teams, but his favorite of all were his beloved Cubbies!
Vern is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jean Guenther, and many nieces and nephews in the Guenther and Kranz families. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Irv, Art, Ray, Walter, Don and Bob, and his sisters, Helen, Dorothy and Ruth.
Visitation will be on Thursday, April 4 from 10-11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Palatine, with a memorial service following.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vern’s name to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 200 N. Plum Grove Rd, Palatine, IL 60067.
For more information, contact Meadows Funeral Home at 847-253-0224 or Meadowsfh.com.
