Velois I. Guenther

Velois Irene Specht Guenther; faithful Christian steward, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, nurse, and confidant was born in New London, Wisconsin on September 3, 1922 and passed away on June 5, 2020 at the age of 97 - a true member of “The Greatest Generation”.
Her parents were Helen and Edward J. Specht. Father, EJ, was an entrepreneur. Helen was an amazing gardener, baker, cook and some say that she liked to go deer hunting. Together, they moved the family to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and opened a new restaurant called, “The Peacock.” Some say; it was the place to be. Velois did her fair share of work at the Peacock, because “you always do your chores first.” However, her real sights were on her education. Throughout her life, she would continue to take education courses when she wanted to learn something new. How do you make a tailored suit, or coat, or professionally decorate a cake? Go to Technical School at night. “Go to the library; get a book and read, read, read.” If U-tube had existed in her day, she would have loved it.
“Are your studies done?” was the mantra for her children. She set the example by attending Carthage College for an Associate Degree, and then went on to get a Registered Nurse Degree from Chicago’s St. Luke Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. She did internships at the Veterans Hospital, in Chicago. Many years later, when the family was visiting the Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, she would remember, “When I worked at the VA Hospital, we would put the ‘fly boys’ back together, after they crashed on Navy Pier.” Velois went on to obtain her Certificate in Public Health Nursing from Marquette University in 1947, coming back to Oshkosh to work as a Visiting Nurse. Those were the golden days when the Doctors and Nurses came to your house.
Enter, Richard Guenther, the love of her life. Her dance partner, host with the most, travel buddy, church partner, sparing partner, cocktail hour companion, bridge partner, devoted husband, son, brother, policeman, detective, our Dad. Their wedding picture from June 26, 1948 featured in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern speaks volumes. It’s the only photograph on the wedding pages with both the bride and groom. Velois and Dick are coming out of St. John’s church together, and Dad was the only groom with his picture in the paper. He loved it! She always made him look good!
Dad liked to stay up late. She liked to get up early and read her Bible and do her devotions first thing. He was the star of the show. She was quiet and reserved. If he was staying too long at the party, she would get her coat and hat and wait quietly by the door. Sympathetic relatives could not believe this phenomenon, and usually got Dad moving out pretty quick. He loved the water, she didn’t swim, but made sure her children were in swim class and learned. She has a way of thinking about the greater good for everyone, and always the greater good was to make her family improve at something, so they could make a difference. Help the human condition. “Did you do your best?”
They lived their whole lives in Oshkosh. Their marriage lasted sixty two years. When it came time for them to get some extra help, they moved to Evergreen Community. Our family shall be forever grateful for the loving care and kindness they received at Evergreen for almost fifteen years. After Richard’s passing, Velois continued to make Evergreen her home. Staff members fondly say, “She is a such a sweet lady with a mind of her own.“ Our translation: Once a nurse, always a nurse. Mom is going to do what she thinks is right for her. She liked Bible Study, Church, Children’s groups, music and reading, so forget trying to get her to Bingo, exercise, or too much and it’s all too much-physical therapy.
For twenty five years, Velois worked at Mercy Hospital, now Mercy Medical Center. Her special gift was Geriatrics. She always had a reverence for the elderly and made sure that her children visited older people who might be lonely. Perhaps it was because Velois lost her dear Mother when she was eight months pregnant with her first child. “You can give some of your time to someone who doesn’t have much time left,” she would say with a tear in her eye. That always got us. “Don’t be selfish”. There she would faithfully be again; Mother, the Good Samaritan.
Besides, working full time as a nurse, Velois made time for Eastern Star, and became Worthy Matron. She loved her high school card group which met monthly for Seventy Years. Seventy years! She called her friends “The Kids.” We fondly, called them “The Clubbers” because they didn’t look like kids to us. The Clubbers, and their husbands and families came to every confirmation, shower, wedding, anniversary, and funeral. Between life events, they met in each other’s homes and when our turn came, it was time to pick up Velois’s other hobbies such as sewing, quilting, knitting, collecting recipes for the church ladies circle cookbook, Campfire girl projects for the kids, PTA notes, articles, magazines, and books, books, books; Time to rake out the house. Dad, astute detective that he was, would come home and say, “We’ve been robbed! Guess I need to find someplace to go for ladies club night.” Seventy- unbelievable- let’s stay together years of friendship and loyalty. We salute, “The Clubbers!”
Velois and Dick had four children - Helen (Lyn) Guenther Beck (David); Leann Guenther, who spent one brief month on earth; Julie Guenther Reinke (Robert); and Richard Guenther (Susan Putzer Guenther). Grandma Guenther was blessed to have eight grandchildren and was able to attend weddings for all – Shannon (Lori), Jamie (Heath), Brandon (Marci), Benjamin (Mandi), Jonathan (Allison), Elizabeth (Brandon), Mark (Sabrina) and Meridith (Brad). Velois always cried at weddings and these happy occasions were no exception. Grandma’s family continues to grow with great grandchildren Gracie, Rex, Laynie, Shane, Vance, Ellie, Ava, Grant, Sophia, Jack, Tucker, Colby, Brielle, Evelyn, Claire, Adam, Lena, Jack, Arden, Keene, Niall, Kayden and Bryan. Velois’ grandchildren wrote fondly about their memories of Grandma and noted that she was a quiet observer, but never missed a thing; stoic, yet quick with a laugh, determined and decisive but a terrible navigator in the car; a lover of chocolate; could knit for hours, always had colored soda pop for us in the basement, promised to never give out her peach meatloaf recipe, patiently helpful with crafts and art projects; taught us to try to color in the lines, encouraged us to challenge ourselves; loved to fish and patiently shared her pole with two year olds when she was ninety six; talked to the fish, the whole time she was fishing and noted the most important order of business while fishing was to keep fish hooks out of others, especially after she got hooked by Grandpa.
Nieces and nephews, Robert and Jo Ellen Guenther, Susan Guenther, Thomas and Patti Guenther, Jim and Diane Senderhauf, Larry and Libby Senderhauf have gone out of their way to attend our Grand Matron Velois’s Birthday Bashes and family get-togethers. Our loving cousins are Velois’ living family- Preceding Velois to heaven was brother Donald Specht and wife Yoshii. brothers and sisters in law, Harry and Jane Guenther, Robert and Eleanor Guenther and Jane and Clarence (Butch) Senderhauf, Nephew, David and wife, Jean Guenther. They remain, “Our Greatest Generation” in every heart. They never missed a beat with any of us!
Psalm 36:5 says that faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Velois has made it her mission to reach higher, make more of, try a little harder, hang in there, and remain faithful. There is, “Always room for improvement.” Even if you make straight A’s, there is always more to come!
Due to the Covid19 Challenges we are scheduling a celebration of life for Velois. Details will be announced. There will be a Zoom Video presentation for all of you who will not be able to attend in person. We haven’t quite decided how to have a post pandemic banquet together, but we are working on it. Velois did love parties and yet always knew when it was time for her to go home. Her heavenly family has been waiting on the other side of the door and she was ready.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
1100 E Murdock Ave
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Oshkosh Masonic Temple Center
204 Washington Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Evergreen Retirement Community
1130 N Westfield St.
Oshkosh, WI 54902