Joan Munk Gunn

Joan Munk Gunn, age 91, died peacefully, surrounded by family, in her Sandy, Utah home on September 13, 2022. She was born August 9, 1931 in her beloved Logan, Utah to Newel Etherel Munk and Sophronia Ione Reese Munk. She grew up alongside her brother Cleve and sisters Maridean, Veda, Renee, and Jeanette. Tragedy struck early in her life when Cleve and Renee drowned after falling through the ice while ice skating on First Dam in Logan when Joan was three. Her mother passed away when she was fourteen. Her family was resilient and grew strong bonds through these hardships.

Joan was a life-long learner, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Utah Agricultural College (now Utah State University) and a master’s from California State University, Fresno. For nearly 20 years she taught in elementary schools in both Ithaca, New York and Fresno, California. She came by teaching honestly, as her mother, maternal grandparents, and step-mother, Hattie (“Jean”) Jane Diamond Munk, were teachers and her father served on the Logan City School Board. She encouraged all of her children and grandchildren to achieve academic excellence. She loved to recount her teaching days and the interesting, and sometimes mischievous, students she taught.

Joan married Thomas Iver Gunn on August 20, 1953 in the Logan, Utah temple. Tom’s older sisters were in the same sorority as Joan’s older sisters, so naturally they encouraged Tom and Joan’s budding romance. Tom passed away in 2019 after 66 years of happy and fulfilling marriage. They were well suited in marriage and life, and Joan longed to be reunited with her dear Tom after his passing.

Tom and Joan set off to Ithaca, New York shortly after their wedding where Tom pursued a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at Cornell University. After graduating Tom obtained a professor position at the University of Washington, and Tom and Joan moved to Pullman, Washington. Later they moved to Sacramento, California before settling in Fresno, California where Tom taught at Fresno State University and Joan taught elementary school. Here they raised their four children Jeff, Linda, Beckie and Anamarie. Upon their retirement they returned to Utah and lived amongst the mountains of Park City for over 20 years. Later they moved to Sandy, Utah after they started declining in health.

Tom and Joan enjoyed all the places they lived and made many cherished friends. Their Park City home became a gathering place and refuge for family and friends. Joan loved having children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren spend time with them. She was renowned for providing great hospitality, always staying busy, and helping others feel comfortable and loved. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Her many interests included trailer camping, hiking, cooking, reading, learning, playing cards, traveling, and most of all, being with family.

Joan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With Tom she served two missions—one in Arcadia, California and the other at the Family Tree Center in Park City, Utah. She held many church callings from Sunbeam teacher to the Relief Society president, and she supported her husband in his callings and assignments. She pondered her religious beliefs and strove to purposefully live them. She showed no doubt.

Joan was proceeded in death by her husband Tom, parents Newel and Ione, step-mother Jean, and siblings Cleve Munk, Renee Munk, Maridean Ryberg, and Veda Romney. She is survived by her sister Jeanette Woolley (Jim) of Salt Lake City, Utah and her children Jeff Gunn (Liz) of Plano, Texas; Linda McClellan (Gary) of Vernal, Utah; Beckie Gorham (Richard) of San Jose, California; and Anamarie Rodabough (Craig) of Washington, Utah; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Joan’s funeral services will be at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022, with a viewing prior at 10:30 a.m., each at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, Logan, Utah, 84321. Interment will follow at the Logan City Cemetery, 1000 North 12 East, Logan, Utah.