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The Life of LOREN JOSEPH GONYEA

Loren J. Gonyea, 88, died March 15, 2012, at Iowa Methodist Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa, from complications from a four-year-long illness.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of his life at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday, March 18, 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. At a later date, Loren will be cremated and laid to rest at Highland Memory Gardens at a private family service.

Loren was born the son of George and Jane Anna Gonyea on April 30, 1923, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Loren spent his early childhood growing up in Wisconsin. He worked at the Mason Shoe Factory in Chippewa Falls. His early adult life was spent in Minnesota, where he worked for Northwest Airlines and was stationed in Alaska as an airplane mechanic for the Northwest Airlines ATC Group during the WWII years. He settled in Iowa in the late 1940s. In Iowa, Loren worked for Brink’s Armored Car Service before he began his long-term career with United Brick and Title as a territory salesman and later as the branch manger in the Des Moines office.

Loren loved music and dancing. He played guitar, and wrote poetry and songs. He spent many years house-boating (Goldbrick) on the Mississippi River in Minnesota, camping with a travel trailer and in general being busy all the time. He was a person who could fix any household item and build most anything he put his hand to. Loren spent many hours working on family genealogy information and had many volumes of information to pass along to his relatives. Throughout the years, he was involved with Kajac Music business and the Iowa/Midwest Music Heritage Hall of Fame museum. His greatest joy was being available to all the young children that were a part of his life.

Loren is preceded in death by his parents, his seven siblings, and his two sons, Kermit and Stephan. He is survived by his long-time companion, Jean Quick; his grandson Kyle (Denise) Gonyea, of Grinnell, Iowa; daughter-in-law Donna Gonyea of Johnston, Iowa; two great-grandsons, Alexander Kiene of Loveland, Colorado, and Evan Gonyea of Grinnell Iowa; many nieces and nephews; Jean’s children, Lois (Gary Malcom) Crook of Boone, Iowa, and their children Mike (Deb), Dave, and Jayme (Rona); grandchildren Holly, Amy, Whitney, Zachary, Jacob, Emily, and Jacie; Leo Wilson of Lake Havasu, Arizona, and his children Jeff (Christine) and Jerry; grandchildren Annissa and Makenzie; Larry (Cindy) Quick of Indianola, Iowa, and their children Lana (Rick Beals), Cody, Ethan, and Treston; and grandchildren Raynee, Avery and Ryan.

Donations may be made to the following organizastions: McDonell Memorial High School, 1316 Bel Air Blvd., Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 54729, 715-723-0538, and/or Iowa Health Hospice, 11333 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, Iowa 50322.

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