LaShan Townsend-Gunnels, a 52-year-old mother and grandmother, was driving south on Troost Avenue on June 7, having just dropped off a grandson at summer camp that morning, when a Chevy Silverado, driving just before 8 a.m. was driving north, swerved and plowed into the driver’s side of her GMC Terrain near 83rd Terrace. The force of the impact caused the SUV to fall onto its side.
Seven days later, on June 14, her husband, Glenn Gunnels, made the difficult choice to take his wife of 24 years off life support. Kansas City police released Townsend-Gunnels’ name on Wednesday, making her the city’s 48th traffic fatality, a figure that increased 37% this time last year.
“Even when she was dead,” said Glenn Gunnels of Kansas City, “she gave.”
Townsend-Gunnels, an employee of Community America Credit Union who had previously worked for DST Systems for more than 24 years, was an organ donor. Five recipients received the gift of her tissue, her husband said.
In 2007, The Star published a “Love Story” profile of LaShan and Glenn Gunnels in The Star’s Sunday magazine. The play focused on the couple’s enduring faith.
“The more we focus on our blessing and our God, the stronger our marriage is,” she said in a piece that, while short, did not shy away from the challenges the couple faced many years earlier. Discussions included the deaths of family members, Glenn’s drug use and his recovery as both committed their lives to God.
They met in 1996 and married in 2000. Combined, the couple had two sons and six daughters, one of whom, Patrice Gunnels, 25, was killed by a gunshot wound in Dallas in 2018 after an apparent argument. Glenn Gunnels said no one was charged. Another daughter, 26, is currently battling thyroid cancer.
Despite both blessings and trials, Gunnels said, he and his wife relied on the power of their faith.
“I just know that God’s timing is not our timing,” Gunnels said.
The couple would celebrate their 25th anniversary next year. They recently traveled to New York City and from there took a 10-day cruise to Bermuda. Next year they would go to Hawaii for their anniversary. Gunnels said if he has any regrets, it’s not making the trip sooner.
“She had been asking for it for the last five years,” he said.
More than 200 people, including friends, family members and co-workers, visited Townsend-Gunnels while she lay unconscious in the intensive care unit, Gunnels said. One colleague traveled from Dallas to be by her side.
“She had a very giving spirit,” Gunnels said. “All she ever did was share the love of Christ. She looked for the best in every individual. She was a wonderful person and always gave herself to others.”
Gunnels said he looked to God in deciding to take his wife off life support.
“I had to pray about it,” he said. “God told me that He created the heavens and the earth in five days. He created man on the sixth day. On the seventh he rested.’
Seven days after the collision, Gunnels said, it was time for his wife to rest.
A funeral is planned for Saturday. Details are pending.
