James Willard Gunn

FUNERAL HOME

Swan-Law Funeral Directors

501 North Cascade Avenue

Colorado Springs, Colorado

James Gunn Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for James Willard Gunn
Start: 2015-03-06T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Swan-Law Funeral Directors

James Willard (JW) Gunn, born in Idabel, Oklahoma, on July 16, 1918, died peacefully at his home in Colorado Springs on February 24, 2015, at the age of 96. Jim was married to his beautiful wife, Dorothy, for 73 years. Out of that union came four boys-Pete, Randy, Steve, and Doug, who were raised in Dodge City, Kansas, where Dad could be a cowboy. The family attended First Christian Church where he was a deacon.

JW had many, many friends who loved to hear the stories of his childhood-Jim was quite an athlete, competing in high school football, baseball, and swimming. We all heard of his stays at the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma, traveling in a covered wagon, and his World War II experiences aboard the Carrier Anzio in the Pacific Campaign. During three years at sea, he received ten battle stars and witnessed bravery as well as death.

While in Dodge City, Jim owned Gunn Motors, a Dodge & Chrysler dealership. Later he became Director for the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, lobbying for the betterment of farmers. Through this association, he became friends with Senator Bob Dole.

JW and his wife, Dorothy, were not only proud of their boys, but also their 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He never had daughters, but would not hesitate to claim his daughters-in-law, Sheryl and Rhonda as his own.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Swan Law Funeral Directors, 501 N. Cascade, Colorado Springs, CO at 11:00 a.m., March 6th, 2015. Burial will follow at Crystal Valley Cemetery in Manitou Springs along with a 1:00 reception at Holiday Village Mobile Home Park club house--3405 N. Sinton Road.

To honor JW's legacy of giving, please donate as you see fit in lieu of flowers.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette on Mar. 1, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for James Gunn

13 Entries

Stan Trekell

March 18, 2015

Please accept my sincere condolences regarding the loss of your loved one. I have fond memories of visiting in your home as a kid and being sent home with a sack load of model car parts each time. Your father was a wonderful man. God rest his soul.

eric larson

March 6, 2015

We remember & respect the Gunn family & the boys! Skip Larson & family.

John and Karen Brown

March 5, 2015

To the entire Gunn family.... Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this bittersweet time. May your wonderful memories bring you comfort! What a time JW and Dorothy must be having in Heaven!

Vonzell and Jeanne Lynn

March 5, 2015

We are sorry that Dorothy and James Gunn passed away within a week apart. We are glad that now they are together, in Heaven. We fill honored that they were our friends and great neighbors of ours.

Michael Demoret

March 4, 2015

Steve and family. Peace be with you all.

March 4, 2015

To the Gunn family,
Our deepest condolences for your loss of JW. We will never forget his amazing sense of humor and warm heart. There will never be another like him. Randy & Carla Hatcher, Mary (Pat) Fitzpatrick.

David Smith

March 4, 2015

Hello Randy, Pete, Doug and Steve wish you the best in the coming years. Sorry about your parents. It does seem proper, but sad for them both to go so close together, after all those years of life. Remember the good times as you move forward
Dave and Donna Smith --Wayne's son

March 3, 2015

To the Gunn family:
You are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Donna Enlow
Lufkin, Texas

March 3, 2015

sorry for your loss, Simon Remigio

March 2, 2015

The Gunn family. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very sad time! Bonnie (Day-Guenthner) Armour

Andrew Berenyi Jr.

March 2, 2015

I had the pleasure of meeting JW a couple of years ago during my visit to Colorado Springs. Steve's family and I stopped to visit JW and Dorothy. We were gathered in their living room. JW and Dorothy were definitely the life of the party. He seemed to revel in telling his stories and bantering with Dorothy, which everyone found to be quite comical. He certainly had wit and a delightful since of humor. I recall both were excited to finally meet Rhonda's brother and that made me feel welcome and I enjoyed the evening at their home. I see where JW could grow on a person. He will always be warmly remembered for turning so many moments into something special. This was my first and only time to meet him.

I admire him for his dedication and commitment to Dorothy. It is quite an achievement to be married 73 years.

To the Gunn family, my deepest sympathy in this time loss.

Joe and Janet Kulbiski

March 2, 2015

Steve, Randy and the Gunn family,

We keep you all in our prayers and pray that God's comfort is with you all.