Longtime West Concord teacher and coach, Lorry Melvin Gunhus, 80, passed away on March 22, 2016 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Lorry was born on Oct. 14, 1935, in Faribault, the son of Ole and Belvina Belle (Helland) Gunhus. He graduated from Kenyon High School in 1953. He enlisted in the Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1955. He then went to Winona State University where he played football, basketball, and track. He was also a graduate assistant basketball coach at Winona State. He graduated from Winona State in 1960 with a major in History and Social Science and a minor in Physical Education. In 1961, he tried out for the first Minnesota Vikings football team. He was on the roster when he broke his elbow and subsequently couldn't play any longer. He then turned his attention to teaching and coaching which spanned 33 years in various towns in MN. In Mazeppa, he directed the high school play, which he loved and would still talk about to this day. On November 24, 1962 he married his beloved Sharon Lang of Winona. In 1963, they moved to West Concord, and he taught social studies, history, psychology and sociology at West Concord High School and then at Triton Middle School. At West Concord, he was the head football, basketball, and track coach. He was also head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Triton High School when they first paired. Lorry received recognition for his coaching and teaching by being inducted into the Triton Hall of Fame He was also awarded to attend two Fulbright-Hays seminars that allowed him to travel to India and Egypt. Lorry was a man with a big heart, who enjoyed visiting with friends and people he didn't even know. He loved to joke around and had a lively sense of humor even throughout his battle with illness. He loved sports and loved to spend time with family and friends. Fishing was one of his favorite things to do and he spent considerable time at his cabin on Lake Kitchie in northern Minnesota. Lorry was a special person who if someone met him, he was not forgotten. He touched many lives and taught everyone life lessons that still are with us today. He loved to travel and enjoyed reminiscing about his experiences in India, Egypt, and Europe. He especially loved the children he met in these countries and would spend extra time visiting with them. Lorry is survived by his three children, COL (R) Erik Gunhus (Amy) of Tampa, Florida; LTC (R)Leif Gunhus (Natalie) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Kaia (LTC Jeff) Goodell of Stafford, Virginia; three grandchildren, Gunnar, Annika, and Gus Goodell; sister Elizabeth (Robert) Wood of Vermillion, South Dakota; and Mary (Wayne) Campbell of Leesburg, Indiana and many nieces and nephews. Lorry was preceded in death by his wife Sharon; his parents, Ole and Belvina Belle (Helland) Gunhus, and his brothers Orvis and Gerry Gunhus. He was a member of the American Legion, Kenyon Color Guard, and Gol Lutheran Church in Kenyon. The family offers many thanks to his doctors and caregivers for their compassionate care, love and respect he received from them. The visitation will be on Monday, March 28 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the West Concord Historical Society. Memorial service will be held Tuesday March 29th at 11:00 a.m. at Gol Lutheran Church, Kenyon. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested and appreciated to the following: Kenyon VFW Color Guard, Post 141 P.O. Box 42 Kenyon, MN 55946 West Concord Historical Society 600 West First St PO Box 58 West Concord, MN 55985 Gol Lutheran Church 1500 Highway 60 BLVD. Kenyon, MN 55946 Visitation: 03/28/2016 15:00 03/28/2016 19:00 Service: 03/29/2016 11:00