Obituary for Wilhelm Guenther
Wilhelm Guenther
Wilhelm Guenther was born on June 5, 1940. Willy grew up as the eldest sibling with a large family, and his parents, David P. Guenther and Margaretha B. Funk Guenther, gave Willy 10 brothers and sisters.They farmed together on the Mennonite Colony in the Chaco, Paraguay, first in Neuanlage and then in Kronstal. Willy and Maria first met when he was 27, through a chance encounter on the back of a buggy. They were both riding home from their studies in seminary and nursing school, and Maria asked if Willy was on his way home to get married. When Willy replied that he had recently become a “free agent,” and was single, a spark was lit, and the rest is history. Their relationship grew easily, and 3 months later they were married, on March 19, 1967.
Willy and Maria's first daughter, Luise, was born in Loma Plata in 1968, and their second daughter Melanda was born in Loma Plata in 1970. During the years living in Asuncion, their family welcomed a foster daughter, Elsa, for her teenage years. In 1978, Willy and Maria moved their family to Winnipeg, Canada, to start a new life. They were later joined in Winnipeg by many siblings from both sides of the family.
Willy was fluent in 6 languages, 3 of which he taught in high school in Loma Plata - Latin, Spanish, and High German. Willy’s other fluent languages include Low German, English (which he learned only once arriving in Canada at age 38!), and Lengua (an indigenous dialect in Paraguay). Willy was an academic, and his degrees include a Theology degree from the seminary in Montevideo Uruguay, a teaching degree from the University of Asuncion, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba.
Willy was drawn to compassionate work, and was a chaplain at HSC for 15 years. Together, he and his wife Maria also worked in MCC’s Native Ministries for 14 years. Throughout his life, Willy found meaning in missionary and community work in indigenous populations, or in faith-based work, both in Paraguay and Canada.
Willy loved gardening, sipping yerba mate with his wife, family barbecues, and during his younger years, riding around on his red motorcycle. Willy often said that watching his 3 grandchildren Joy, Alek, and Hannah grow up, and spending time with his daughters Melanda and Luise, and son in law Daniel, was his greatest source of joy. Willy was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and his family describes him as thoughtful, generous, and very loving, in everything that he did. Willy was a quiet but compelling leader in his family, and led by example, practicing patience, forgiveness, and faith at every opportunity. Willy exemplified what it means to be a kind and generous human being. Willy will be greatly missed but he recently expressed that he is excited to join his wife Maria in heaven. Willy, you leave big shoes to fill.
Psalm 18:28 NIV
I am unsure of my steps; the path is hidden and unknown; the journey seems endless.
But You have promised to be a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
Give me the strength to keep my lamp burning.
Turn my darkness into light.
Today. Tomorrow. Till the end of the age. Amen.
Wilhelm Guenther was born on June 5, 1940. Willy grew up as the eldest sibling with a large family, and his parents, David P. Guenther and Margaretha B. Funk Guenther, gave Willy 10 brothers and sisters.They farmed together on the Mennonite Colony in the Chaco, Paraguay, first in Neuanlage and then in Kronstal. Willy and Maria first met when he was 27, through a chance encounter on the back of a buggy. They were both riding home from their studies in seminary and nursing school, and Maria asked if Willy was on his way home to get married. When Willy replied that he had recently become a “free agent,” and was single, a spark was lit, and the rest is history. Their relationship grew easily, and 3 months later they were married, on March 19, 1967.
Willy and Maria's first daughter, Luise, was born in Loma Plata in 1968, and their second daughter Melanda was born in Loma Plata in 1970. During the years living in Asuncion, their family welcomed a foster daughter, Elsa, for her teenage years. In 1978, Willy and Maria moved their family to Winnipeg, Canada, to start a new life. They were later joined in Winnipeg by many siblings from both sides of the family.
Willy was fluent in 6 languages, 3 of which he taught in high school in Loma Plata - Latin, Spanish, and High German. Willy’s other fluent languages include Low German, English (which he learned only once arriving in Canada at age 38!), and Lengua (an indigenous dialect in Paraguay). Willy was an academic, and his degrees include a Theology degree from the seminary in Montevideo Uruguay, a teaching degree from the University of Asuncion, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba.
Willy was drawn to compassionate work, and was a chaplain at HSC for 15 years. Together, he and his wife Maria also worked in MCC’s Native Ministries for 14 years. Throughout his life, Willy found meaning in missionary and community work in indigenous populations, or in faith-based work, both in Paraguay and Canada.
Willy loved gardening, sipping yerba mate with his wife, family barbecues, and during his younger years, riding around on his red motorcycle. Willy often said that watching his 3 grandchildren Joy, Alek, and Hannah grow up, and spending time with his daughters Melanda and Luise, and son in law Daniel, was his greatest source of joy. Willy was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and his family describes him as thoughtful, generous, and very loving, in everything that he did. Willy was a quiet but compelling leader in his family, and led by example, practicing patience, forgiveness, and faith at every opportunity. Willy exemplified what it means to be a kind and generous human being. Willy will be greatly missed but he recently expressed that he is excited to join his wife Maria in heaven. Willy, you leave big shoes to fill.
Psalm 18:28 NIV
I am unsure of my steps; the path is hidden and unknown; the journey seems endless.
But You have promised to be a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.
Give me the strength to keep my lamp burning.
Turn my darkness into light.
Today. Tomorrow. Till the end of the age. Amen.