Kewanee man honored on his 80th birthday
NEW MADRID -- Nathan "J.R." Gunther of Kewanee was honored on his 80th birthday Nov. 1 at the community building in New Madrid.
Friends, family and classmates of the Wardell High School Class of 1942 gathered for the occasion and were asked to write a memory or experience they had shared with him. The recollections were put into a memory book titled "80 Years of Memories."
Mike Gunther opened the program by asking each guest to tell how they became acquainted with Gunther. Pansy Glenn read a poem which was written for Gunther by his granddaughter, LaSondra Farrell. Lynn Akins, husband of the late Karen Gunther Akins, addressed the guests and relayed humorous events he had shared with Gunther and his wife, Betty.
Cake and punch were served to 85 guests. Out-of-town guests included: Mike and Maggie Gunther and Alison Gunther of Dixon; Nick Bradford St. Ann; 1st Lt. Brant and Kacie Gunther of Leesville, La.; Herschel and Mary J. Schneider and Erin Schneider of St. Charles; LaSondra O'Farrell of Houston, Texas; Ashleigh Robison of St. Peters; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Mayes and their daughter, Mary Joe, Mary Cartwright and William Capps of Princeton, Ky.; John and Pat Capps of Fredonia, Ky.; Wayne and Vickie Smith of Alpena, Mich.; Shirley Eddy of Bullhead City, Ariz.; Gary Smith and Esther Travis of Rector, Ark.; Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Glenn of Florissant; Mr. and Mrs. Noel Glenn of Zalma. Out-of-area classmates came from St. Louis, Poplar Bluff and Greenwood, Miss.
The celebration concluded with 20 family members gathering for the evening meal at Fisherman's Net in Sikeston.