Sharon Rose Gunther
Share
Sharon Rose Wonnell Gunther, 70, of Lawrence, KS, passed away in her home on April 11, 2025. A beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and aunt, Sharon will always be remembered for her love for her family, friends, and the Chiefs. As a lifelong Lawrence resident, she also loved the Kansas Jayhawks. Sharon was happiest when watching football and basketball or simply hanging out with family and friends at a BBQ. She will be remembered for her devotion to her grandson and her teams.
Born on October 15, 1954, in Lawrence, KS, Sharon was the youngest daughter of Charles and Helen Wonnell and sister of Patricia Wonnell Miller. She attended Kennedy Elementary, Central Junior High, and Lawrence High School. Sharon enjoyed the outdoors and her garden. As a child, she would help her mom in the garden and go mushroom hunting or fishing with her dad. She loved growing tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, and all types of beautiful flowers.
Sharon loved working and gravitated to jobs that would let her work with her hands or with people. Before retiring in 2022, Sharon worked at Home Depot in Lawrence for over 20 years. Prior to that, she worked for Bendix King (King Radio), and Scotch Fabric Care, both in Lawrence. She was a trustworthy employee who liked to go above and beyond. While working at Scotch Fabric Care, she found a diamond in the pocket of customer’s jacket. The jeweler was surprised and grateful when Sharon returned the diamond along with his cleaned jacket. She loved the people she worked with and for.
Sharon is survived by her sister, Patricia Miller of Lawrence, her daughter and son-in-law, Corinne and Brian Gilges of Ottawa, her grandson, Clinton Rice of Ottawa, her nephew, Johnny Miller of Brooklyn, NY, her niece Lori Miller Wilken of Seattle, WA, and her great-niece, Harper Wilken of Seattle, WA, and three great nephews, Maxwell Wilken of Seattle, WA, and John and Jude Miller of Brooklyn, NY. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Helen Wonnell.
Sharon did not want a formal service, so instead of a funeral, Sharon’s daughter Corinne will host a celebration of life date TBD. Sharon did not want people to get dressed up and sit around reflecting quietly. Her celebration will reflect Sharon’s life. There will be good food, good drink, and good people. It will be loud and fun, just like Sharon.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital oncology department and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary 120 W. 13th St. Lawrence, KS 66044.
SHARON WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS GOING TO MISS HER DEARLY
Sharon I have known you most of your life, will truly miss you. Will always love you.
So sorry for your loss my condolences to you and your family ❤️
Sara and Eric Fletcher
Sending our sincerest sympathies to you and your family.
Sharon was a good friend and will be missed.
So very sorry to read this. Knew Sharon for many many years. I wish I lived close so that I could have attended her Birthday Party this past year. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. RIP Sharon
Sorry , my condolences to the family and your in my thoughts and prayers Patty!
SHARON I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU, you taught my kids soooo much! You made sure they learned their vocabulary words and study while I was going to JCCC in the evenings. I learned how to grow a garden, lay a flower bed with annuals and perennials, how to BBQ the REAL way with charcoal and a WHOLE LOT of American Football. I will miss your calls/text during hurricane season…you ALWAYS reached out right away to make sure i was prepared. Sharon I LOVED YOU, MY BOYS LOVED YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER BE FORGOTTEN 💔🤍 Fly hight Sharon🤍
SHARON I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU, you taught my kids soooo much! You made sure they learned their vocabulary words and study while I was going to JCCC in the evenings. I learned how to grow a garden, lay a flower bed with annuals and perennials, how to BBQ the REAL way with charcoal and a WHOLE LOT of American Football. I will miss your calls/text during hurricane season…you ALWAYS reached out right away to make sure i was prepared. Sharon I LOVED YOU, MY BOYS LOVED YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER BE FORGOTTEN 💔🤍 Fly high Sharon🤍
I last spoke (texted) with Sharon in December. When worked together at Home Depot I would make her laugh every year when we would get our fresh cut Christmas trees in because I would run and jump into them and roll around so I could smell like a Christmas tree all day. After I moved to Seattle I made sure to take pics of me in the trees every holiday season. I hadn’t done it the last several years but I did do it this past December. She was so happy to get the text. I will miss you my friend. You could match my loudness, cussing, and energy better than most people. You will be missed. Corrine, I’m very sorry for you and your family’s loss.
Was sad to see that Sharon had passed. We grew up together on Powers St. Lots of adventures through those early years! Prayers for the family. I agree that a celebration of life would make Sharon happy! Just wanting people to have a good time and sharing memories.
Sharon was a friend and became family to me over the years. She will be missed by those who knew her. She will be missed.
I have many wonderful memories of Sharon. We had a lot of laughs and good times. When I think of Sharon I think of her making pizzas that she added her own spin too, grilling, going to the 4-H fair ground building to proudly see what Corinne had entered thst year. I love when we visited with her parents and a fond memory is her mom making us our skirts for the 50’s party at King Radio. Her love for her daughter, family and grandson was evident. I will be keeping you all in my prayers. I am deeply sorry for your loss.
Sharon and I went to Central and Lawrence High together but really didn’t become true friends and hang out buddies until after graduation. Sharon had no problem voicing her opinion, so it was always a hoot working with her at King Radio(2nd shift).
Sharon and her partner in crime (Shirley)taught me a lot in my early 20’s and I met a lot of people, and because of that I was truly blessed.
When I would ran into Sharon at Home Depot it was always a big hug, how’s the family and a remember when.
Sharon you will be missed.
The memories you left in our hearts are PRICELESS
Chiefs games, Jayhawks games, Pinetree get together, BBQ, storms, your radio, vegetables and flowers garden will not be the same without you
Clinton and Corinne was your world
You grow in our hearts just like your gardens beautiful and strong
My kids and nephews loved you and the love and tough love you gave them when they mess up
You will never be forgotten
I worked with Sharon at King Radio and loved to visit with her at Home Depot. She was so full of fun and loved to laugh, and I missed her a the depot when I hear she had passed. No one knows when its your time to go, so live life to the fullest, just like Sharon did.
So sad to hear about Sharon passing. I worked with Sharon at scotch. There was never a dull moment with her. Always had a smile . RIP Sharon . You will be missed .
I very much enjoyed the albeit brief interaction I had with Sharon during the King Radio days. It was merely a few brief years but memorable ones none the less. Loved bumping into you at Home Depot when I still lived in Larryville. God Speed Sharon, you will be missed by many.
To Sharon’s Family, I had the benefit of having Sharon as a friend at Scotch Fabric Care for years and later at Home Depot.
Her smiles and her sense of humor made our visits fun.
Sharon believed in good customer service and practiced it daily.
Well done Sharon in all that you contributed to Lawrence and its people.
Now, Rest in Peace.
Corrinne,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I worked with Sharon at Scotch for many years. Never a dull moment with her. She was the best at her job. Her and my sister would commute back and forth each morning and they would make me laugh so hard. Outside of work she was a hoot as well. She was a great mother and blessed grandmother; she loved her family very much. Going to miss her so much.
I was saddened to read about Sharon’s death. We met in grade school. We would run into each other throughout the years and she was always smiling and seemed happy to see me. Condolences to Sharon’s family.
May the memories of the fun times and love you knew from Sharon help you get through the sad times.