Donald “Donnie” Lynn Guenthner

Posted on May 4, 2022

Donald “Donnie” Lynn Guenthner 86, passed away on April 30, 2022, in Lake City.

Don was born August 12, 1935, in St. Petersburg to Herman A. Guenthner and Mary Katherine (O’Roark) Guenthner, who preceded his death.

Donnie grew up in St. Petersburg with two brothers (Jim and Phil) and three sisters (Janice, Doris and Shirley).

He proudly joined the Naval reserves while still in high school and continued to serve for eight years.

In 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Norma, and they moved to Perry.

Don and Norma created an amazing and wonderful life together, and they were blessed with a large and loving family. Donnie loved to take them all camping, loved to assist in building any crazy contraptions they could think of, and he provided the steadiness of just being himself, a good natured, kind and loving person.

Don was a proud Christian and an active member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Perry until they moved to Dowling Park to enjoy retirement.

He and Norma resided in Dowling Park for nine years until moving back to Perry a few years ago to be closer to family.

Serving First Baptist Church was one of the highlights of his life and he especially loved to complete any task needed to keep the building and grounds ready for all to enjoy. Don was also very proud to be a part of several mission trips to Nicaragua to help build churches in the area.

Donnie worked as an operator and safety coordinator at Proctor and Gamble for 34 years. He was also a master carpenter and he built cabinets for many friends and family.

Besides his wood-working talents, Donnie loved to draw pictures. He was always sketching landscape plans, home plans and the like. In his later years, he shifted to painting and it gave him many hours of enjoyment.

Don also enjoyed cycling and enjoyed riding with his friends Jo and Jerry, enjoying the laughter and scenery they experienced along their rides.

Don and Norma retired in 1994 and were able to spend many years enjoying their retirement. They enjoyed traveling to different places in their RV, but were mostly just always busy with working on the beautiful homes that they created, and with helping their family and community.

Donnie was always especially aware and appreciative of the amazing beauty of our world, always taking the time to look at the shapes of the clouds, enjoy beautiful sunsets, watch the squirrels playing in the trees, watch and be grateful for the beauty of the birds, and with always enjoying nice drives through the back roads of North Florida looking at the magnificence of the land, especially when the wild flowers are blooming in the spring and summer.

Don is survived by: his wife of 67 years, Norma (Gibson) Guenthner; their four children, Donald “Guy” (Amy) Guenthner of Huntersville, N.C., Gary (Marcia) Guenthner of Largo, Janet (Cal) Thomas of Perry and Kevin (Sabrina) Guenthner of Perry; nine grandchildren, Katherine “Katie” (Jeff) King, Laurabeth (Kevin) Shofe, Logan (Amy) Guenthner, Kelli (Alexander) Newsome, Jonathan Michael Thomas, Madison (Carl) Wier, Nathan (fiance Makayla) Guenthner, Garrison Guenthner and Kaden Guenthner; and six great-grandchildren, Savannah Guenthner, Riley Guenthner, Ellie Shofe, Reece Shofe, Michael Newsome and Samuel Newsome; along with his sister-in-law, Linda (Gibson) Peacock; and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Perry with Pastor Steven Ruff officiating. Interment services will follow at Pineview Memorial Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, from 10-11 a.m., at the church.

All arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home of Perry. Friends may sign the online guest book at www.joepburnsfuneralhomes.com.