Lucille F. Gunhus

Lucille Frances (Wosick) Gunhus, was born on November 18th, 1938, in Grafton, North Dakota to Anton and Effie (Brzykcy) Wosick. She passed away on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 in Harbor Springs, Michigan at the age of 84.

Lucille, also known as Lou, was the youngest of 9 siblings. She was raised in Minto, North Dakota and then moved to Drayton, North Dakota where she graduated from high school in 1955. She attended UND and graduated from Aaker’s Business College. She lived and worked in Minneapolis before moving to Fargo in 1962.

It was there that she met and fell in love with a young attorney named Gunder Gunhus. They dated for 3 months before he proposed, and they married 3 months later on December 29th, 1962. They worked together to build a thriving law practice in Moorhead, which eventually grew to include more than 30 attorneys.

Lucille’s proudest accomplishment was becoming a mom. Beth came first in 1964, Vicki in 1965 and Sara in 1973. She took so much joy in all their accomplishments, and loved to volunteer to help with their activities. She cheered them on during their tennis matches, drove them to music lessons and always made sure to encourage them to do their best in whatever they pursued.

Lucille was a woman of elegance and culture, and loved reading all about the latest fashions. She enjoyed entertaining, especially if it gave her the opportunity to try out a new recipe. She and Gunder loved to travel, but found the happiest moments sitting on the deck of their cabin on Big Sand Lake. Holidays were spent with their family, and many years Christmas involved a ski vacation to Big Sky Montana.

Family reunions were always special, and Lucille loved getting together with her 6 brothers and 2 sisters. She was proud of her Polish heritage, and she also embraced the Scandinavian traditions that came with being married to a Norwegian. She made the most perfect krumkake, and her fruit cake was a work of art.

Over the years, Lucille participated in supporting many community groups. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter DC/MN, she was a former President of the Women’s Symphony Board and was a longtime advocate of the Dorothy Day House.

In 2009, she became a Grandma to Harry, whom her daughter Sara and husband Rod adopted as an infant from Ethiopia, a few years later they brought home Edward from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grandma was a title she was so proud of, and she spoiled those boys better than anyone else! Nothing brought her more joy in the last few years than going to church with Edward or watching Harry play baseball.

In 2021, Lucille moved to Pineview Cottage assisted living in Harbor Springs, MI. She had the most wonderful care from everyone at Pineview, and always had a smile on her face. She also had many visits from her daughters, son in law, grandsons and a special visit in February from her brother Tony and his grandson Craig.

Lucille passed peacefully on Saturday, August 5, 2023 after a series of strokes, surrounded by her daughters. She literally died with her trademark smile on her face, and we can only imagine she was met by so many loved ones that had gone first.

Surviving Lucille are her daughters, Beth Gunhus, West St. Paul, Minnesota, Vicki Gunhus, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sara (Rod) Gunhus-Hanley, Brutus, Michigan; grandsons, Harry and Edward Hanley; sister, Rose Everson, Mesa, Arizona; sister-in-law Bonnie Wosick, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

Lucille was predeceased by her parents, Anton and Effie; her husband, Gunder; brothers and sisters in law, Ray (Addie), Henry (Angie), Tom (Ellie), Betty, Jim (Thelma), Charlie and Tony Wosick; sister and brother in law, Irene (Bus) Salter; brother in law, Walker Everson; and many other family and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 15, 2023 at 2PM in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Moorhead.  A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to Mass.