Carl Christian Gunter, Jr. was born September 2, 1920, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Concordia, KS, to Elizabeth Louise (Scurlock) and Carl Christian Gunter, Sr., M.D.


Five boys were born into this family. Carl was preceded in death by his four brothers: Wm. Ladd, John Waldo and twins, Keith and Kenneth Gunter.


Carl spent his younger years in Aurora, KS and graduated from the 8th grade at St. Joseph's Catholic School. He also attended his freshman year of high school there before transferring to Concordia High School, where he graduated in 1938.


He then attended FHSU for one year, 1938-1939, following which he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was sent to Omaha, NE, for training. He was then sent to Marysville, KS, where he was the senior head of the camp from 1939-1941. He worked for a short time with the J.C. Penney Co. in Marysville, KS before restarting his education in the fall of 1941 at KSU in Manhattan, KS.

Carl then enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1942 and was discharged in March 1946. He served his entire time in the Army Medical Corps spending about half of his time in the states and half the time in the European Theater. He was discharged in March 1946. He resumed his studies at KSU and in the summer of 1947, entered the University of Kansas Medical School.


In the fall of 1946, he met Mary Elizabeth Gerlach and they were married on February 1, 1948.


Carl graduated from medical school in 1951 and served a year of internship at the Kansas City General Hospital #1. His partner at KCG was Herman W. Hiesterman, M.D.

Carl and Herman, along with their wives moved to Quinter in July 1952 to begin practice with Dr. Ben Morris. After one year, Carl and Herman went into practice for themselves and remained in practice partnership until Carl's retirement in 1984.

"The joys of our lives came with the birth of our son, Kurt Christian Gunter on September 19, 1954 and our daughter, Sally Elizabeth Gunter, on May 12, 1957."

Carl was a member of the Quinter United Methodist Church, the Family Practice of NWK Medical Society, Kansas Medical Society, the American Medical Association, a life member of Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, a member for 11 years and president and chairman of the Kansas Blue Shield Board for the last 2 years, a member of AQA, National Honor Scholastic Medical Society, a 30 year faculty member of Kansas University Medical Society as Preceptor in Medicine, and a 30 year member of Ducks Unlimited.


Survivors include his wife, Mary, of Quinter; a son, Kurt C. Gunter and wife, Carrie Ann, of Chicago, IL; a daughter, Sally E. Gager and husband, Rick, of Hays; and four grandchildren, Timothy, Jonathan and Jacob Gunter, and Sara Gager.

A Memorial Service for Carl will be held Monday, November 30, 2009 at 11:00 AM in the United Methodist Church at Quinter, KS with family receiving friends at 10:00 AM until time of service.


Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, Gove County Medical Center, or the Castle Rock Health and Fitness Center and can be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 S Main, Quinter, KS 67752.