Karin Rae Gunner

Karin was born October 22, 1935, in Hartford, CT to Hyrum and Rachel (Jansson) Richards. Her father was a chief surgeon for the Veteran’s Administration, so they moved a lot, and lived in Hartford, CT; Yonkers, NY; Fort Howard, MD; and Hot Springs, SD before moving to Salt Lake City, UT where extended family lived.

Karin played intramural sports and sang in the A’ Capella choir at East High School, then turned her love of music into a degree in music education at BYU. A highlight of her life was recording the soundtrack for the Hill Cumorah pageant. At BYU she met John E. Gunner and they married in Dec. 1957 and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Karin taught music at Orem Junior High until John graduated.

The couple moved to Carmichael, CA in June 1958. Karin put her musical talents to use in a variety of church road shows, stake musicals, regional dance festivals, and ward choirs.

Karin had a great love for animals and provided a home for many over the years. She also loved crabbing on the piers of the Chesapeake Bay as a child and camping at Santa Cruz, Anchor Bay, and Lake Tahoe with her family. Family outings to Apple Hill made great memories for her.

After her divorce, Karin went back to school to update her teaching credentials and earned her Master of Arts in Education degree. She provided for her family by teaching Special Education at Casa Robles High School for 19 years, five of which she volunteered to be the vocal instructor for two choirs during her break period. She also worked as the switchboard operator at J.C. Penney for many years. She selflessly worked hard to make sure her children had what they needed and more. She also welcomed into her home many people who needed a safe place to stay.

After retiring she served as an ordinance worker in the Oakland, CA and Sacramento, CA temples, and served as a missionary in Birmingham, England and Rancho Cordova, CA.

She taught Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society later in life and was the Senior Sister Adviser organizing outings for the senior women in her ward.

Poor health led to her moving to Southern California in December 2024 to be closer to her children who could be with her daily.

Karin was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and valiant in her testimony of Him.

She is survived by her son, Steven Gunner (Kristine), daughters Alyson Johnson (Lorne) and Julie Gunner (Mindy Cowan), 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren with two on the way, and her cat Dahlia. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Donna Richards Busath.

Funeral services will be held on June 13 at 10:30 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 890 W 3070 N in Lehi, UT. Interment will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City, UT.

In lieu of flowers, Karin asked to remember her by donating to the SPCA or your local animal rescue.

https://www.spcai.org/donate