Doris Jean Guenther

Doris Jean Louise Guenther passed away peacefully on September 11, 2020.  She was born in Kimball, Nebraska on June 2, 1934, the fifth daughter out of six.

Doris is preceded in death by her loving husband, Lloyd Robert Guenther; her parents, Albert and Anna (McElroy) Schultz; her sisters, Lucille Schuemaker, Vera Graham, Verna Beauprez and Helen Armstrong, as well as many other family members and friends.  Imagine the happy reunion with loved ones she has not seen in a very long time.  All now resting together, including beloved pets and Doris now rejoined with the love of her life.

Doris once noted that she had 48 years, 4 months and 8 days with Lloyd.  They met in the Fall of 1949 when he was home on leave from the Navy. His brother Don Guenther’s girlfriend at the time made the introduction.  Lloyd told his buddies that very night that he was going to marry her.  Once he returned to the Navy they became pen pals.  Lloyd proposed to Doris at the Little Gem Drive Inn Café in Longmont, CO and they married on August 25, 1951 on a beautiful sunny day.  Doris recalled that her father told her, “Happy the bride that the sun shines on.”

In 1953 scarce jobs sent Lloyd and his brother Jack to Portland, OR for work.  Doris followed in March then Jack and Helen Armstrong followed with their son Barry.  A couple of years after that they moved to Southern California to work with Kerm Shoen at U-Haul moving into a rental next to the shop.  Lockheed called to offer Lloyd a job, but they decided to stay with U-Haul and many long happy years with the company followed.

In December 1958 their first child, Penny Lee, came into their lives.  Much to their surprise Becky Lynn followed the next year in November 1959 weighing the exact same as her father at his birth.  Doris had a hunch the third surprise child would be a boy, but she never said anything.  Rodney Lloyd was due on Christmas day but came late.  Doris asked Lloyd if he liked little girls, he responded yes, then she told him it was a boy and off to the nursery he raced once she was settled into her bed.

Their time in CA brought long-lasting friendships with the Deem family, and the Cornells.  They had many adventures and memorable camping trips.  However, the earthquake of 1971 brought the Guenthers and some family members to Colorado in a four-truck convoy quickly followed by a move to open a U-Haul shop in Albuquerque, NM.  In 1973 Doris started working as Lloyd’s secretary at the shop.  There were many wonderful employees including Lee and George who would marry the Guenther girls.  There were company picnics in the Pecos, Christmas parties, visits from U-Haul staff Alton and Sandy Littleton, L.S. Shoen, Hap and Toni Carty to name a few.  Hap told Lloyd if he ever had a problem he could not solve, he would go to Albuquerque because he knew Lloyd and Lee would figure it out.  It was hard for Lloyd to retire in 1986 but he taught many a lot, including his wife and children.  Doris believed they had a fairytale romance.

Now we shall live to carry on and keep the many wonderful memories alive.  Doris is survived by her children,  Penny (and husband Lee), Becky, Rodney (and wife Patsy); her sister, Margaret Ragar; brother-in-law, Howard Guenther and his wife Betty; four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; Fran McCready; many nieces, nephews and other loved ones.

The family would like to express their deep and sincere appreciation to the staff (present and past) at Casa San Pablo in NE Albuquerque for their tender care of Doris.  Much appreciation also to the medical staff at Corus Health, previously Onpointe Hospice.

A private immediate family Interment for Doris has taken place at Santa Fe National Cemetery, in Santa Fe, NM.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm on September 11, 2021, at the FRENCH-Wyoming Reception Center.