Loren Gunnison
November 9, 1952 – May 23, 2026
life story
A dynamic man
It is hard to summarize a man like our father - he didn't really fit into any mold. He was a father to us, a grandfather to others; a band teacher to many. He was quiet and shy, or boisterous and a little crazy - depending on how well you knew him.
One of the only truly consistent things about him was how he loved to help people, and how he lived a life of generosity. If there's something to be consistent about - that's a good 'un.
There are so many stories to share, and we hope you do!
About Dad's last years
Dad (Loren) had a stroke in 2011 that changed his life completely. Without full use of his right arm or leg, life became difficult and confined. In 2019, Dad moved from Burlington, Iowa into an assisted living home in Maplewood, Minnesota called "Ecumen - Seasons at Maplewood." There, he loved the food, and once COVID restrictions passed, he was able to make many friends.
But, his multiple heart attacks of previous decades had taken their toll. Heart disease turned into heart failure, which he lived with for many years - his lifestyle of restricted movement probably helped relieve some of the work load his poor heart had to do. In February of 2026, we learned his heart function was only between 5-10%. In May, Dad's heart finally gave out, though still quite reluctantly. Dad went to the hospital with all sorts of heart rhythm issues, ones that couldn't be fixed, and he was told hospice was the most obvious option at this point.
Dad was so intent on getting to see his friends at Ecumen again, we couldn't make any other decision but to move him back to Ecumen (albeit into the "Memory Care" wing, so as to have more assistance available).
All of his offspring - his children and grandchildren - got to visit and spend special time with him in this one last hospital stay. Three days after entering hospice care, the nurse alerted us that Dad was moving into the active dying stage. While Josh, Loren's son, needed to stay in Iowa to be present for Josh's daughter's high school graduation, both of Loren's daughters were able to be with him during his last 36 hours of life. Our last hours with him as he was conscious were so precious - we watched his favorite team, the Twins, and he explained this or that aspect of baseball to us, and we celebrated home runs, and even a win for the Twins. Dad thanked us for being there and watching with him, then traveled off to a long, final sleep as the medications took over. He died 25 hours later.
His last years were not active. But they were spent loving and being loved. They were spent happy. He loved playing Bingo and Bocce Ball with his fellow residents at Seasons. He loved listening to the stories his children told him. He loved listening.
His eyes were always soft with love, or intent with listening, in his last years. Always kind, always calm, always focused on others.
Dad used to tell us that the most important thing was your State of Being.
What a gift it is, and has been, to see him truly live out that advice.
For his last years of life were nothing if not a continuously luminous State of Being.