Teen remembered for what he loved

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Gideon Guenther poses with a Mazda Miata that he was restoring with his dad before he died Nov. 13, 2020, at age 16. A car show is being held to raise money for a scholarship in his name.

APPLE CREEK  The legacy Gideon Guenther leaves is his love for everyone, according to his family.

“He didn’t like to upset anyone,” his father, John, said in information provided. “That would be his legacy. He wanted everyone to get along and for everyone to be happy.”

The 16-year-old Waynedale junior died in a traffic crash Nov. 13, 2020, just outside of Kidron. He is remembered for his love of God, cross-country sports, his music, his cars, his family and more.

A scholarship fund has been established by the Southeast Local Schools Music Boosters. A benefit cruise-in for the Gideon Guenther Memorial Scholarship Fund and new band uniforms will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Waynedale High School. Thunder Buggy, the jet-powered Amish buggy, will be featured 10 a.m.-1 p.m. only. All types of trucks, tractors, motorcycles and cars are welcome (classic and current). Food trailers, auction items and live music will be on site. Cruiser and visitor donations are accepted. For more information, call 330-465-4453.

“We are thankful to the Waynedale community for remembering Gideon in such a great way,” Gideon’s mother, Carrie Guenther, wrote in an email. “Two of Gideon’s passions were music and cars and we can’t think of a better way to gather together to remember him.”

When he was only 14, Gideon purchased his first car, Carrie Guenther wrote. He spent his own money on a 2001 Mazda Miata and he spent the next couple years working on it with his father to restore it.

“John took it as his mission, along with Gideon’s friends, our church family, and Leroy Engineering to rebuild his project car from the frame up,” Carrie Guenther wrote. “It will be finished and displayed for the first time at this memorial car show, raising money to help other Waynedale students pursue music after high school.

“Gideon was an amazing son, grandson, and friend,” Guenther continued. “He made an impact to everyone around him. He was musically passionate – planning on double majoring in music education and music performance after graduation. He was in band playing trombone, sang bass in the Goldenaires, and was in several theater productions at Waynedale, as well as playing the bass guitar in our church youth worship team. He also played with his grandpa, a retired music teacher, in several community bands, Wooster community band and the Kroc Center Big Band.”

Gideon loved anything old, his mother said. He loved pop culture and music from the ’70s and ’80s, and had an extensive vinyl record collection.

“We are thankful for this community and how they have stood by us and helped Gideon’s memory live on,” Guenther said in the email. “In addition to this car show, the Waynedale cross country meet (held on his birthday this year, Aug. 28) was renamed “Gideon’s run”. Also, the band and choir also commissioned an original composition for each group, to be performed at the winter concert.”

People are welcome to make donations at the memorial car show, or donations also may be mailed. Checks should be made out to Southeast Local Music Boosters. In the memo line, donors are asked to indicate if the donation is for the Gideon Guenther Memorial Scholarship or Southeast Local band uniforms. Checks should be mailed to: Southeast Local Music Boosters, Waynedale High School, 9050 Dover Road, Apple Creek, Ohio 44606.