Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 27, 1932, to parents Emil and Minnie (Wilhelmina Sachtleben) Gunther, Walter was the third of four children, all of whom were first generation Americans, their parents having immigrated from Germany as a young married couple. Walter enjoyed his boyhood in Chicago with his two sisters, and loved the city and its attractions, especially its sports teams and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was a life-long Cubs and Bears fan, cheering on his home teams even when life took him far from the Chicago area; and he was passionate about classical music all his life.
After graduating from high school, Walter enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Korea for three years. Throughout his entire life, he held it as an honor to have served his country. Upon honorable discharge from the military, Walter went to work at American Airlines where he was able to indulge his love of travel, visiting many countries around the world, both while at the airline and later in life.
After leaving the airline, Walter changed careers, working primarily in sales for many years. Having lived and worked in various US states, he settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, upon retirement, enjoying the climate and the opportunity to indulge his appreciation for gaming.
Walter had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready with a quick joke. In addition to sports, travel and music, he had many interests throughout his life, from writing a novel to acquiring an encyclopedic knowledge of World War II history.
Walter married twice, and was the father of five children: Julie Gunther of Nashville, Indiana; Michael Gunther of Las Vegas, Nevada; Linda Gunther of Thermopolis, Wyoming; Lisa Gunther of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Karen Gunther Pugh of Cypress, Texas. He was unmarried at the time of his death.
Walter was blessed with long life and a loving family. He was predeceased by his parents and older brother, Herbert and son-in-law, Gary Pugh; survived by his five children; his two sisters, Edie Mahmalji and Elinor Rockway; his cousin, Gerda Khorsheed; three grandchildren, Jeremiah Fulps, Bethany Fulps, and Alexandra Pugh; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held for Walter on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 1:20 PM at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr., Boulder City, Nevada.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity Walter long supported: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
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