Obituary of Boyd Lavern Gunn

Boyd Lavern Gunn, 86, of Newton, died Tuesday evening, July 5, 2011, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. A Mass of Christian Burial for Boyd will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton, with Father William Reynolds and Deacon Dan Goetz officiating. Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton has been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation with the family will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at the church. In LIEU of flowers: Memorials are being designated to; Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Jasper County Animal Rescue League. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Boyd, the son of Walter Hiram and Frankie Matilda (Jacobs) Gunn, was born December 21, 1924, in Urbana, Iowa. He was a high school graduate, and graduated from the University of Iowa, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering. A resident of the Newton area since 1958, he was employed as an Industrial Engineer by the Maytag Company. On October 6, 1951, Boyd was united in marriage with Darlene Ann Fuller in Jesup, IA. He had devoted his life to his family and friends, and enjoyed woodworking. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Maytag Management Club, as an officer and the Iowa Industrial Engineers Association, as past president. He was a kind and warm hearted gentleman, who always found the good in everyone. Boyd was preceded in death by his parents; three daughters in infancy; a son Brian Keith Gunn on Jan. 20, 2007; his three brothers; and two sisters. Those left to honor Boyd's memory include his wife Darlene; his two sons: David (Heather Troxel) Gunn of Riverside, CA and Stephen (Susan Donohoe) Gunn of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren: Emily, Molly and Colin; his sisters: Charlotte Meyer of Oxford and Rosie Wallace of Illinois; and his many good friends.