Roger Lee Guntren

Roger Guntren, 68, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Saturday, September 14, 2024, at his home in Le Mars surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Doug Klein will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church. There will be a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com. 

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made in Roger’s name, in care of the family, to Hospice of Siouxland or to a favorite charity of your choice. 

Roger Lee Guntren, the son of Edwin and Kathleen (Loutsch) Guntren, was born on July 11, 1956, in Le Mars, Iowa. He grew up in Remsen, Iowa, and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. As a junior in high school, his dad was the Sheriff, so the family moved to Le Mars where they lived in the Plymouth County jailhouse. He graduated from Gehlen Catholic High School in 1974. Following high school, he went to work for Walker’s Ditching in Le Mars.

He was united in marriage to Julie Baack on December 13, 1975, in Le Mars, Iowa. He continued working for Walker’s for a few years before going to work for Chesterman Company in Sioux City as a route driver. Eventually his desire to carry on the family business and his love of trucking led him to start Guntren Express in April of 1994. This year, he celebrated 30 years of working beside his wife and family doing what he loved. 

He was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish in Le Mars. He was also a member of Son’s of the American Legion in Le Mars. Over the years, he enjoyed taking his grandkids tubing and fishing at Lake Okoboji, deer hunting, and most recently, he took up snowmobiling. He enjoyed watching his grandkids participate in their various sporting events. He took great pride in mowing his yard and keeping his grass green. His recent happy place was at Hilton Head Island where he loved to travel and entertain with his family and friends. Roger loved to be surrounded by his family and his greatest moments were when everyone was together, whether it was at the Lakehouse, sitting by the pool at Hilton Head, or just watching football at home. He was known to be very kind and generous to everyone he met. Occasionally he was known to visit the Hard Rock Casino for “amusement purposes only”.

Survivors include his wife, Julie of Le Mars; a daughter, Jamie (John) Platt of Spencer, IA, and their children, Colton and Daxton; a daughter, Jill (Aaron) Charlson of Hinton, IA, and their children, Logan, Austin, and Macie; his siblings: David (Sheila) Guntren of Marcus, IA, Karen (Chris) Conlon of Hinton, IA, Julie Guntren of Sioux City, IA, Tom (Paula) Guntren of Sioux City, IA, Mary (Jim) Koopmans of Ireton, IA, Brandy Bright of Sioux City, IA, and Kris (Dan) Callahan of Sioux City, IA; his in laws: Bill Bliven of Le Mars, IA, Jeff (Shara) Baack of Marcola, OR, Mary Redman of Sioux Falls, SD, Kathie (Bill) Shea of Beverly, MA, Joe (Kim)  Baack of Evergreen, CO, Gary (Kori) Baack of Naperville, IL, and Greg (Traci) Baack of Bellevue, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Kathleen Guntren; his father and mother-in-law, William and Barbara (Nemmers) Baack; his sisters, Linda (Roberts) Bliven and Donna Britton; his in laws, Steve Roberts, Merle Britton, and Dr. Rex Redman; and a nephew, Ryan Redman.