Obit: Gunia, Estella (1919 - 2012)

Contact: Audrey Roedl

Email: audero@ charter.net

Surnames: Gunia, Prehn, Schweke, Luepke, Rinehart

----Source: The Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI 04 Apr 2012)

Gunia, Estella (20 MAY 1919-28 MAR 2012)

Estella M. Gunia, 92, Spencer, died on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at Colonial Center, Colby. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., on Friday, March 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer. Rev. David DePaoli officiated. Burial followed in West Spencer Cemetery. Pallbearers were Randy Rinehart, Richard Rinehart, Scott Rinehart, Ed Rinehart and Todd Schultz. Honorary pallbearers were Melissa Schultz and Christal Prehn.

Estella Margaret Schweke was born on May 20, 1919, in the town of Brighton, Marathon County, the daughter of William and Wilhelmina (nee Luepke) Schweke. She was raised on the family farm and received her education at Harding School. She married Donald Prehn on Oct. 14, 1939, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, north of Spencer. They lived in Milwaukee from 1942-1944 and then moved back to Spencer, where she worked at Graves Mercantile, Kobs Variety and Village Plaza. Her husband, Donald, died on May 16, 1973. She married Ed Gunia on May 28, 1976, at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He died on Sept. 19, 1998. Estella was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She had many interests, but especially loved spending with her family, sewing, fishing and cooking.

Survivors include one daughter, Diane (Gerald) Rinehart, Loyal; one son, Allen (Nancy Prehn, Abbotsford; six grandchildren, Randy (Kay) Rinehart, Richard (Denise) Rinehart, Robert (Mary Ann) Rinehart, Scott (Eva) Rinehart. Melissa (Todd) Schultz and Christal Prehn; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; four brothers, Ervin Schweke, Alvin Schweke, Rudy Schweke and Clifford Schweke; one sister, Lenora Zettl; one nephew: Vernon Schweke; and two great granddaughters.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com

Cuddie Funeral Home, Loyal, assisted the family with arrangements.