Allen David Gunther’s passing

   Reverend Allen David Gunther, pastor of Bear Valley Community Church from 1972 until retiring in 1996, passed away November 13, 2009 at age 86 in Santa Ana, CA. While pastor of the Community Church, his sermons often expressed his love for Big Bear residents who, like he, had a deep appreciation for the grandeur of God's beauty here in Big Bear Valley.

   Pastor Gunther found inspiration in the tall pines, deep blue skies and crystal clear nights we find just outside our doors here in the valley. His daily exercise, in spite of his demanding pastoral schedule, usually included a long, brisk walk on the roads and trails outside his home in Big Bear City. Until his stroke in 1998 he was also an avid backpacker. He took frequent backpacking trips into the San Gorgonio mountains and even made attempts at summiting Mt. Whitney while in his 70s.

   During Pastor Gunther's tenure at Bear Valley Community Church the congregation and programs offered by the church grew consistently, culminating in the building of the “Gunther Center.” The dedication of the Gunther Center was overseen by his long time friend Dr. Russell Reynolds, former superintendent of Bear Valley School District.

   Pastor Gunther, according to his children, appreciated the diversity found in the Community Church congregation which included members from many Christian denominations that do not have their own churches up on the Hill. As seen by his family, he was a man that forever grew more accepting and patient with others, seeing his pastoral role more and more as one of simply showing God's love to others through the small things we do each day.

   Allen Gunther was born in central Canada in the small town of Blaine Lake on October 17, 1923 where he spent most of his childhood. He received a bachelors of science and a teaching credential from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon just as World War II was coming to its peak. He then enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force where he trained and served as an airplane electronics technician. Towards the end of the war, with the severe shortage of teachers, he volunteered to teach in a small one room school house near Saskatoon.

   He married Luba Makaroff, sister of his childhood buddy, John Makaroff on October 10^th, 1948. Allen and Luba moved from Canada to California shortly after their marriage to join Allen's family that had moved south a few years earlier. Soon thereafter, Allen changed his career direction and chose to enter Fuller Seminary, rather than returning to Canada to pursue a career in medicine. He received a second bachelors degree from Fuller Seminary in 1953.

   Pastor Gunther had a long and distinguished career with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, beginning as an assistant pastor church in Pasadena California from 1951 until 1952. He accepted his first full time pastorate call to the small central California town of Cutler and remained there until taking a church in Santa Monica from 1956 until 1967. Allen then moved the family to Fullerton, California where he pastored for five years before coming to Big Bear.

   Pastor Gunther came with Luba and his two younger sons, Lorne and Ken to Bear Valley Community Church in 1972 where he pastored until full retirement in 1996. Only one theme stood out more in his sermons than the beauty of Big Bear, and that was the all embracing love of God that, he often said, was available to all for the asking. Pastor Gunther will be remembered by family and friends as a man who trusted God to change us into more faithful and loving servants of others.

   Allen's youngest son Ken, who works in South Korea at Taejon Christian International School, wrote this poem following descriptions of Allen's last few days with Luba, his son Keith and sister-in-law Nancy while on his journey back to be with family for this Saturday's memorial service.  Ken was a graduate of Big Bear High School, class of 1974. The poem is written from the perspective of Allen having passed on, with symbolism common to the Christian tradition where bread is the word of God.

"A Dream from Below the Tall Pines"

Yesterday I lay dreaming on the forest bed of long fallen needles

Invigorating scents of high mountain pine long swept away

Sipping one last cup of love from my life's beloved

Soothed by a near taste of God's bread served from faithful hands of son and daughter

Now awake to loves true reward, Thy love itself

I join in praise across this eternal expanse of the One who beckons those I cherish below the tall pines

“Give way to Love”

   Allen was the oldest of seven children to David and Agatha Gunther and is survived by his loving wife Luba Gunther in Santa Ana, California, four brothers Vern Gunther (Covina, CA), Earl Gunther (Cameron Park, CA), Chet Gunther (Nappa, CA), Bob Gunther (Lynden, WA), three sisters Viola Allen (Burlingame, CA), Elinore Flannigan (Hayward, CA), his four sons Arron Rai, (Carlsbad, CA), Keith Gunther (Whittier, CA), Lorne Gunther (Bothell, WA) and Ken Gunther (Daejeon, South Korea), as well as seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

   There is a memorial service for Allen at Town and Country Manor, 555 East Memory Lane, Santa Ana this Saturday, November 21 at 10:30 am. Messages of condolence and memories can be viewed and posted online to http://allengunther.blogspot.com/.

Would you like to comment on this article in Bear Valley News? Just send us an email to PR@bearvalleynews.com. Let us know if you would like us to put it in a letter to the editor and if you want your name printed.

Back to Front Page