Michael R. Gunnink, Sr

M ichael Ray Gunnink, Sr., age 45, of Montevideo, MN passed away Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, October 2 at 11:00 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN.  Interment to follow the service at the Hillside Cemetery in Lake Wilson, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service.

A Memorial Service will also be held at the United Methodist Church in Raymond, MN on Friday at 1:00 p.m.

M ichael Ray Gunnink was born on May 29, 1969 in Pipestone, MN.  He was the youngest son of Peter and Mary Ann (De Ruyter) Gunnink of Lake Wilson, MN.

Mike was baptized at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church in Chandler, MN, and was confirmed at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, and is now a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Havelok in Montevideo.  He attended Chandler -Lake Wilson Schools and graduated in 1987.

He attended Ridgewater Technical College in Willmar, and Mike met his wife, Naomi Whittenbaugh, at a gas station there.   On July 19, 2002, they were married at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.

After marriage, the Gunninks lived in Spicer, MN until purchasing a hobby farm near Montevideo.

Mike worked for Bergh’s Fabricating as a welder for 18 years, before he and his wife purchased the café in Raymond, which they named, Naomi’s Kitty Corner Café in February, 2012.

4-H was important to Mike, and as an adult leader, he enjoyed teaching his children and other 4-H members about various projects, including farm animals.  He enjoyed fishing, cooking, taking short trips, and especially spending time with his wife, their children, family and friends.

Mike passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN at the age of 45.  He will be remembered by his parents;  his loving wife, Naomi;  two sons, Conner Gunnink, and Michael Ray Jr. Gunnink; two daughters , Camryn Gunnink and Eliza Gunnink, all of Montivideo, MN; four brothers, Darwin (Linda) Gunnink, Woodstock, MN, Larry (Bobbi Jo) Gunnink, Lake Wilson, MN, Tom (Mary) Gunnink, Lake Benton, MN, Chuck (Darcy) Gunnink, Columbia Heights, MN; three sisters, Audrey (Tom) Ramsbacher, San Antonio, TX, Linda (Brad) Bauer, Farmington, MN, and Sharon (Tom) Calabrese, Pomfret Center, CT; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Terry (Connie) Whittenbaugh,  McGregor, IA;  Brother-in-Law, Adam Meana, McGregor, IA;  and sister-in-law, Stacie Meana, McGregor, IA and many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.