Harold E. Guenther

Harold “Hal” Guenther, a longtime resident of Barrington, Illinois passed away peacefully at age 93 on August 12, 2021.

Hal was born in Long Island, New York on September 27, 1927 to Walter and Christina Guenther and raised in Lynbrook, Long Island with three younger sisters. He entered military service after high school in 1945 and served for two years earning his paratrooper Jump Wings with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division.

Following the service, he attended Mohawk College in Utica, N.Y. for one year before earning a BA in Economics from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio in 1951 and an MBA in finance from Miami University of Ohio in 1953. He also became one of the first Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA).

In College, Hal met Alma Gene Guenther and they married in 1953.  They went on to have three children (Jan, Jeff and Jacqui) over the years 1959 to 1965. After 65 years of marriage, Alma Gene passed in 2018.

Hal was first employed as a financial analyst at U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh in 1953 where Alma Gene worked as an elementary school teacher. His career path led the family to Lincoln Life in Fort Wayne, IN and Franklin Life in Springfield, IL before finally settling in Barrington Hills, IL in 1967 becoming an investment banker and partner with Dean Witter. He continued to work in the Chicago investment community and served on four board of directors before retiring in 1997. In 2006, Hal and Alma Gene moved to the Garlands of Barrington while enjoying Naples, Florida during the winter months.

Hal had a unique ability to balance his time between career and family.  Outside interests included traveling, entertaining his numerous friends and family, musky fishing at Boyd’s and athletics. An avid tennis player and golfer, he picked up running in his mid-50’s as his children dragged him into the world of endurance sports and long runs at Moraine Hills State Park where he later worked in support of their conservation efforts.

Hal was the loving father of Jan (Brian) Knutson of Minnetrista, MN; Jeff (Annette) Guenther of Naperville, IL; Jacqui (Tri) Guenther-Nguyen of Barrington, IL; cherished grandfather of Hanna (Joe Gephart) Guenther, Anders Knutson, Morgan Nguyen, Connor Knutson, Mia Nguyen, Annika Guenther and Nathan Nguyen; and adored great-grandfather of Maja Gephart.

A private family memorial service will be held at the family’s request.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JourneyCare Foundation, www.journeycare.org/donate.