Gaylord Stephen Guenther

b. 9 November 1891, d. 1 August 1952

Gaylord Stephen Guenther, 1891-1852
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther was born on 9 November 1891 in Holland, Erie County, New York.
  • William H. Guenther and Cora Irene Davis appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Holland, New York. Other members of the household included Gaylord Stephen Guenther.
  • William H. Guenther and Cora Irene Davis appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Attica, Wyoming County, New York, at North Avenue enumerated not far from Cora's sister Dora Graham and their mother.. Other members of the household included Gaylord Stephen Guenther.
  • He was a house carpenter, according to the 1910 census.
  • William H. Guenther and Cora Irene Davis appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1915 in Attica, Wyoming County, New York, at Washington Street. Other members of the household included Gaylord Stephen Guenther.
  • He was employed as a carpenter, according to the 1915 census.
  • He married Mary Ethel Sierk, daughter of Henry Sierk Jr. and Cora Almeda Lindsey, on 19 October 1916 in Attica, Wyoming County, New York, with Emmett M. Kelly officiating. The marriage was witnessed by Lillian F. Sierk.
    Gaylord Guenther and Mary Sierk on their wedding day, 1916
  • The following appeared on 19 October 1916 in the Silver Springs Signal: County and Vicinity. Mary Ethel Sierk of Attica and Gaylord S. Guenther of Niagara Falls were married today.
  • The following appeared on 20 October 1916 in The Daily News: (Attica) Miss Mary Ethel Sierk, daughter of Henry Sierk, was married yesterday afternoon at the residence of her father on the Creek road to Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls, the Rev. Emmet M. Kelly officiating. Miss Marian Rogers of Darien played the wedding march. Mr. and Mrs. Guenther left for New York on a wedding trip and will reside at Niagara Falls.
  • The following appeared on 23 October 1916 in The Daily News: (Attica) The wedding of Miss Mary E. Sierk, daughter of Henry Sierk of the Creek road, to Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls was solemnized at the home of the bride's grandfather [sic] on Friday [sic] afternoon.
  • The following appeared on 26 October 1916 in the Silver Springs Signal: (County and Vicinity) Miss Mary Ethel Sierk of Attica and Gaylord Stephen Guenther of Niagara Falls were married last Thursday.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Niagara County, New York, while living at 1121 Walnut Avenue, Niagara Falls, and working as a carpenter for Charles Meyer & Sons.
  • The following appeared on 2 June 1919 in The Daily News: (Attica) Henry Sierk of the Creek road has gone to Niagara Falls, where he will spend a few days with his daughter, Mrs. Gaylord Guenther. Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther of Attica will also spend a few days at the same place.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1121 Walnut Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther.
  • He was a building carpenter, according to the 1920 census.
  • The following appeared on 28 June 1921 in The Daily News: (Attica) Mrs. William Guenther of Washington street was in critical condition yesterday. Her son, Gaylord Guenther, with his wife and little son, have come by automobile from Niagara Falls.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the New York state census of 1 June 1925 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Lillian F. Sierk.
  • He was self-employed as a carpenter, according to the 1925 census.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther, Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Jane Audrey Guenther.
  • He was a carpenter working on construction, according to the 1930 census.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue. Other members of the household included Jack Gaylord Guenther, Marilyn Ethel Guenther and Jane Audrey Guenther.
  • He was employed as a construction superintendent, according to the 1940 census.
  • The following appeared on 17 April 1941 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls and Dr. and Mrs. Leo Sierk of Attica were Sunday callers on Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther. 
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther registered for the draft on 26 April 1942 in New York while living with his wife Mary at 1887 Cleveland Avenue in Niagara Galls, and self-employed there as a building contractor at 611 Eighth Street.
  • The following appeared on 16 February 1943 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Miss Marilyn Guenther, a student at William Smith College, N. Y., spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Guenther, of Cleveland avenue. . . . Ensign Jack Guenther, personnel officer with the See Bees at Camp Peary, Virginia, spent the weekend at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Guenther, of Cleveland avenue. Enroute to Camp Peary, he will stop at Washington, D. C., where he will receive special training.
  • The following appeared on 4 May 1950 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls spent Fathers Day with Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther. 
  • The following appeared on 22 June 1950 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Guenther of Niagara Falls spent Saturday P.M. with Mr. and Mrs. William Guenther in honor of the birthday of Mr. Guenther. . . .  Mrs. Cora Morgan of Biss spent Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Guenther. 
  • The following appeared on 13 December 1951 in The Wyoming County Times: (Varysburg) Gaylord Guenther and daughter of Niagara Falls called on Mr. Guenther at the hospital and on Mrs. Guenther at the Gordon Libby home Saturday. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Willie Davis of Java Center called on Mrs. Wm. Guenther, Sunday. . . . Mrs. Lucy Hudson of East Aurora spent Sunday with Mrs. William Guenther at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Libby, Mr. Guenther is in the Warsaw Hospital suffering from a broken hip. . . . Mr. and Mrs. James Davis and Mrs. Gordon Libby called on Wm. Guenther at the hospital Sunday evening. 
  • Mary Ethel Sierk became a widow at his death.
  • Gaylord Stephen Guenther died on 1 August 1952 at age 60 in Niagara Falls, New York, at 1887 Cleveland Avenue at his residence.
  • He was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, Wyoming County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 1 August 1952 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Gaylord S. Guenther, 60, who had been in the contracting business here for many years, died of a heart attack early today at his home, 1887 Cleveland avenue.
         A Fire department inhalator squad administered first aid to Mr. Guenther for 15 minutes before he was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. by his doctor.
         Mr. Guenther was a native of Holland, N. Y. He came to this city 36 years ago and was associated with the Charles W. Moyer company, contractors, for 20 years. He later served as superintendent for the Walter S. Johnson Building company for several years.
         For the last ten years, until his retirement, Mr. Guenther operated the Gaylord S. Guenther contracting business.
         He was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Associated General Contractors.
         Funeral services for Mr. Guenther will be conducted at the Gridley Funeral home at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery, Attica.
         Mr. Guenther is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary E. Guenther; a son, Jack G. Guenther; two daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Wilson and Miss Jane A. Guenther, all of this city, and his father, William H. Guenther, Warsaw, N. Y. He is also survived by four grandchildren.
  • A single grave marker identifies the graves of Gaylord Stephen Guenther and Mary Ethel Sierk.
    Gaylord Stephen and Mary Ethel Sierk Guenther, Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica, Wyoming County, New York
  • The following appeared in a Niagara Falls newspaper: Jack Gaylord Guenther, Sr., 90 of Niagara Falls passed away Friday February 27, 2009 surrounded by his family at his residence while under care from Niagara Hospice.
         Mr. Guenther was born in Niagara Falls, NY on May 9, 1918 a son of the late Gaylord S. and Mary (Sierk) Guenther. He was a 1936 graduate of Niagara Falls High School where he was Captain of the Football team. He continued his education and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1941 and the Thayer School of Engineering in 1942.
         Mr. Guenther served in the United States Navy, Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) from 1942-46 and was discharged from active duty with the rank of Lieutenant. He continued his service in the United States Naval Reserve from 1941-50 where his duty stations included Norfolk, Virginia, Newfoundland, Camps Parks, Shoemaker, Pleasanton, California. While serving he also played on the Fleet City Bluejackets team.
         He met and married Elynor Forster Brown on April 4, 1946. Mrs. Guenther died September 14, 1990.
         His professional civil engineering career included Ben C. Gerwick, Inc. from 1946-49 heavy docks and foundations in the San Francisco Bay area, from 1951-1971 Wright & Kremers, Inc. managing industrial, commercial and public building projects including the Niagara Power Project and from 1972-1986 with the Dravo Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA., in heavy construction management in the United States and Saudi Arabia.
         Mr.Guenther was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls where he served as an Elder and Trustee. He was active in the Niagara Falls Builder's Association, a life member of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers, American Society of Engineers and the Society of Military Engineers.
         Survivors include three sons, Rev. Dr. Lance L. M. (Peggy) Brown of the Town of Tonawanda, Jack G. (Della) Guenther, Jr. of Grand Island, NY and Otto F. Guenther (Donna Reisert) of New Castle, DE, a daughter Lyane Marie (Guy) Klein of the Town of Tonawanda, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.
         He was predeceased by his sisters, Jane Stone and Marilyn Wilson.
         Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday March 14 at 12 Noon in the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls, 311 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY with the Rev. David Crapnell officiating. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family.
         Flowers graciously declined, if desired, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Niagara Falls or to the YMCA of Niagara Falls.
  • Last Edited: 31 Aug 2016

Family: Mary Ethel Sierk b. May 1890, d. 15 June 1962