When I think of Ian Gunning I think of a man who had it all.
I don't mean in a sense of posessions. I mean he had qualities to his life that many of us aspire to and sometimes we hit the mark and sometimes we don't. Ian's manner was unassuming and spectacularly quiet about the great successes he had. He had intelligence, compassion, humour, respect, humility and all the while carried himself with dignity and grace.
I knew him as a kind and generous friend. The Gunnings stand by friend and family in good times and bad, with respect and thoughtfulness for those going though a challenge. That's how I first got to know him. But there was so much more Ian and I caught glimpses of this as I spent more time with him.
I caught glimpses of his standing in the business world, when i met people who worked with him and heard them speak of the respect and reputation he carved out in business.
I caught glimpses of his greatness in his academic undertakings, when he casually mentioned his grades when I asked after his course progress, all the while he was studying, working full time in demanding positions and spending time with the family.
But the times that he became the greatest in my eyes was when I saw his speak about his family. I had the privilege of spending time with him when we were both receiving treatment at the same time in 2008 and we got to hang out together. I got to know Ian much better during this time and saw him as the great husband and father that he was. He loved his family, they were the light of his life.
All the times I hung out with Ian during the day when Rita was at work, we had a great time but he would usually say "Hey let's ring Rita" when we were out having lunch or something. So we would call her and tell her about how we were sitting at Scarborough Pub or Como Hotel out on the verandah looking at Oyster Bay and what we were having for lunch. He adored Rita so much that sometimes I felt bad because he was hanging with me, when all the while he would have rather been having lunch with the love of his life, the wonderful Rita. It was so great to spend time with them as there was great security in the love and trust they built their hime and family on. Plus Ian must have loved her very much to be brave enought to take on the only sister of a band of 6 brothers...
The only time I ever saw Ian speak with pride was not about his business or academic achivementsor posessions - but when when he spoke about Josh or Elyse. (A close runner up would be if St George were winning). He was so proud of Josh and Elyse and when we were hanging out, he would mention a conversation he had had with Elyse, or we would hear a song and he would mention "Elyse likes this song" or he'd talk about something he had done with Josh or what he was planning to do with the kids, or the conversations he was going to have with them on life, going out, music, sport, values, and all the important stuff, and it made me realise they were always on his mind. I thought that was absolutely fantastic and loved hanging out with a friend who had such good values and priorities in life.
It is hard to say any of this without mentioning Rita, as they walked the same walk and held the same values and life principles. It was wonderful to see them together, as they really enjoyed being with each other and faced the world together with the same thoughts and goals.
The foundation they have set for their family is strong due to the fact they saw the world in the same way and had similar goals and values family and as friends our job it to support the Gunning family to grow and develop the way Ian and Rita have planned and to learn from their wonderful example and be a true support to them as they have been to many of their friends and family.
Love you Ian Rita Josh and Elyse
Loz xxx
For Mr G
The cheeky grin and hearty laugh made all he met feel at ease,
Whose calming manner in the office meant every angry trader he could easily appease
When those who stormed afoot with “whats wrong with my P&L”, it was Gunner we sent in to do the hard sell
And so he would with calm and grace, and never condescending in his case, but eventually without fail, he would prove those who questioned wrong, for his intellect and argument were always strong.
However more surely than winning the case afoot, he would always proceed to mutter under his breath “far out - back on the streets is where that person should be put”
With these admirable skills, we learnt so much, none more so than in the Angel, on any given weekday after lunch...
From here it was a shift to coaching us through life, and all manner of related strife with the long debates that went on and on – then having to explained to our loved ones at home what took us so long.
Ian, Mr G, Gunners your spirit and vivacity for life was amazing – you were a truly extraordinary person.
Being married to Ian was truly an adventure, Ian loved life and took me on that journey with him. He made me strive to better myself without even saying a word. He was very bright but never made you feel inadequate especially when you didn’t understand what he was talking about especially on subjects like Topology, Quantum Mechanics etc. Ian was the type of person that always told Josh, Elyse and myself he loved us and we know that everything he did was for us. The kids and I are missing his sense of humour, his laugh, his voice and his embraces and the fact that we can no longer tell him how much we love him and seeing his smile when he told us he loved us too. He was very generous and always wanted to help out where he could, whether it be sponsoring children or helping friends.
He was very romantic, never forgot our anniversary, Valentines Day or any other occasion, unlike myself. He loved Christmas and made sure that the kids Christmas stockings were filled to the brim. He loved hunting for those gifts and had to make sure that the Christmas tree was up. He wanted to make Christmas a special time for the kids, not because of the presents but because of what Christmas stands for and that is the birth of Jesus.
Anyone that knew Ian would know that he had a strong faith in God and he had many a discussion with agnostics and atheists and any other person with different faith that was willing to take him on, but he did that with such grace because he knew that the person he was talking to was special to God and no one was offended by what he said.
When we went on holidays, he was the one that took the kids to the beach and taught them to boogie board whilst I stayed back in the hotel and either read a book or slept. He went with them on all the rides, whilst I minded the bags. When we went overseas, he was always planning tours so that we could see the sights and learn about the places. He had a wealth of information on the sights we saw, where one person can store so much information and bring it back up when needed, I will never know.
He never complained about his cancer, the only thing he said was he didn’t want to leave us, he wanted to grow old with me and see his children grow up and be there for them, especially when the grandkids came along. He knew that was no longer going to happen and he kept apologising to me for that. He lived through this illness with dignity. He was a great man and a gorgeous husband and a loving father. He was my best friend.
I will never understand why he was taken away but I guess maybe it was God’s turn to have discussions with him and I can imagine Ian asking God questions about physics, astrology etc. The kids and I are missing him terribly but we will never forget him. He was truly my superstar!
Miss you heaps and love you lots
Being married to Ian was truly an adventure, Ian loved life and took me on that journey with him. He made me strive to better myself without even saying a word. He was very bright but never made you feel inadequate especially when you didn’t understand what he was talking about especially on subjects like Topology, Quantum Mechanics etc. Ian was the type of person that always told Josh, Elyse and myself he loved us and we know that everything he did was for us. The kids and I are missing his sense of humour, his laugh, his voice and his embraces and the fact that we can no longer tell him how much we love him and seeing his smile when he told us he loved us too. He was very generous and always wanted to help out where he could, whether it be sponsoring children or helping friends.
He was very romantic, never forgot our anniversary, Valentines Day or any other occasion, unlike myself. He loved Christmas and made sure that the kids Christmas stockings were filled to the brim. He loved hunting for those gifts and had to make sure that the Christmas tree was up. He wanted to make Christmas a special time for the kids, not because of the presents but because of what Christmas stands for and that is the birth of Jesus.
Anyone that knew Ian would know that he had a strong faith in God and he had many a discussion with agnostics and atheists and any other person with different faith that was willing to take him on, but he did that with such grace because he knew that the person he was talking to was special to God and no one was offended by what he said.
When we went on holidays, he was the one that took the kids to the beach and taught them to boogie board whilst I stayed back in the hotel and either read a book or slept. He went with them on all the rides, whilst I minded the bags. When we went overseas, he was always planning tours so that we could see the sights and learn about the places. He had a wealth of information on the sights we saw, where one person can store so much information and bring it back up when needed, I will never know.
He never complained about his cancer, the only thing he said was he didn’t want to leave us, he wanted to grow old with me and see his children grow up and be there for them, especially when the grandkids came along. He knew that was no longer going to happen and he kept apologising to me for that. He lived through this illness with dignity. He was a great man and a gorgeous husband and a loving father. He was my best friend.
I will never understand why he was taken away but I guess maybe it was God’s turn to have discussions with him and I can imagine Ian asking God questions about physics, astrology etc. The kids and I are missing him terribly but we will never forget him. He was truly my superstar!
Miss you heaps, love you lots
A brother, A man with Compassion, Intergrity and Dignity.
"How do I say goodbye to a brother that I love?
I still cannot believe that you're gone, I'm still hoping it isn't true. Wishing this heartache was just a dream from which I,d wake up and find you still here, in life, with us.
Ian, my brother, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the unconditional support you have giving me.
Forever in our hearts and in our thoughts,
John,Donna, Jordan and Lara
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13
A brother, a man with Compassion, Intergrity and Dignity.
"How do I say goodbye to a brother that I love? I still cannot believe you're gone. I'm still hoping it isn't true and wishing this heartache was just a dream from which I'd wake up and find you still here, in life with us.
Ian David Gunning I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the unconditional support you have given me.
Forever be in our Heart's and Thought's,
John Boghos and family
A treasured friend, a precious generous heart , always a wise and loving support. A man with dignity, integrity and intelligent humour. A devoted couple with Rita his own angel.
Ian, dear dear friend, has kept his place in many hearts that knew him.
A Great, Gentle and Wise man indeed.
In my heart always,
Jullette
Jullette
15 years agoAmen dear Loz.. So True.