It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Jonny Joyce Guenther (Greene), a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Jonny entered into rest on October 14, 2024, in Spokane, Washington.
Born and raised in Spokane, Jonny graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1963, where she was a member of the Ti-Girls, Camp Fire Girls, and was a Worthy Advisor in the Rainbow Girls organization. She pursued higher education at the University of Colorado, earning her degree in 1967 while proudly participating in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Jonny's dedication to teaching took her to Germany, where she met the love of her life, 1st Lieutenant Jon Gary Guenther. They married on November 16, 1968 and shared a beautiful journey of 56 years together while raising four loving children in Spokane.
Jonny devoted 40 years to the Spokane School District and obtained a Master's degree in Education from Lesley University. As a teacher and Title I reading specialist she touched countless young lives with her patience and kindness.
Together with her husband, Jonny strongly believed and instilled in her children the understanding of the profound importance of family. She lived each day exemplifying her fierce love and devotion to each of us. Whether sewing prom and wedding dresses, or ballet costumes, driving long hours supporting all types of athletic events and piano and music concerts, sending cookies across the country, or simply placing the most well-timed and needed phone call, her love shined as luminously and dependably as our sun.
One of the simple joys in life Jonny so dearly embraced was stealthily and humbly seeking out the most precious gifts for her family and taking pleasure in waiting to offer them at the perfect moment. She enjoyed scouring local garage sales in search of these uniquely indescribable items to make us smile. Never did a holiday, birthday, celebration, or event pass without that unexpected perfect gift gently given with a loving smile solely to lift our spirits and make sure we knew we were always loved.
Perhaps the most special place in Jonny’s life was spending time at their lake cabin in Cocolalla, Idaho. Each summer, for 46 years, the lake served as a place of retreat. Her embrace of nature and the outdoors gave our family time to deeply connect. Swimming with her kids and grandkids, canoeing across the lake, sharing stories and songs around campfires while making s’mores, singing on car rides home, rousing card games of “13”, and large family meals were extraordinary gifted moments from Jonny, happily imprinted in our hearts.
As a child, Jonny spent summers at Camp Sweyolakan on Coeur d’Alene Lake. These summer adventures continued as she later became a camp counselor, and then continued creating life-long dependable friendships from camp. She regularly sought and flourished in the company of the “Goldens,” her Sweyolakan Camp Fire friends.
Jonny touched the lives of everyone she met. She had a such an amazing heart for people. She loved to dance, and was a member of the Silver Swans, at the Dance Center of Spokane. We know she is now dancing in heaven!
She is survived by her loving husband, Gary; her four children: Amy Louise Stinson (Mark), Abby Joyce Wadlow (Paul), Jon Gary Guenther Jr. (Amy), and Alissa Jeane Bower (Dan); and her siblings: sister Mimi Greene, and brothers, Tom Greene, Jamie Greene, and Jon Greene. Jonny was a proud and adoring grandmother to ten grandchildren: Aiden Wadlow, Evan Stinson, Lincoln Wadlow, Mason Stinson, Katherine Wadlow, Emersyn Wadlow, Ainsley Stinson, Greta Bower, Owen Bower, and Sören Guenther. She is followed in death by her brother Bob Greene, and preceded in death by her parents Robert T. Greene, Dorothy Jeane Gay Greene (Paine), Major John E. Gay, and granddaughter Avery Stinson.
A private family service will be held to lay her to rest, and a larger Celebration of Life will be hosted this coming spring.
Jonny Joyce, Mom, Grammy, you will be forever missed, forever loved, forever needed, and will forever live presently in our lives.
🎶Hmmm hmmm I wanna linger,
Hmmm hmm a little longer,
Hmmm hmm a little longer here with you 🎶
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