Gunda Hiebert Obituary

Beloved local patroness of the arts Gunda H. Hiebert, 89, peacefully drew in her last breath on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from the bedroom of her beautifully curated home, surrounded by family and loved ones, while listening to heartfelt vocal and piano melodies performed by dear friends.

Gunda's driving passions in life were music and travel - not only for the exhilaration and delight each afforded her in and of themselves, but equally for the people she met while relishing these pursuits. She had an enormous heart and effortlessly formed deep friendships with people of all ages, from music students and faculty at KU, to people she met at the numerous performances she attended and hosted every year, to those she met through her extensive and frequent travels. These personal relationships were the fuel that powered her infectious and palpable joie de vivre.

In addition to being a wonderfully nurturing and adoring mother, friend, and advocate, Gunda was also a great listener and giver of sage advice. Most notably, perhaps, she was a networker par excellence, with an extraordinary knack for making friends across disparate social circles, focusing on the success of others rather than her own personal gain - whether that meant creating opportunities for artists to perform for and meet members of the community, connecting people with common interests or a common purpose, helping young artists achieve their dreams through scholarships, or simply by the confidence gained from feeling understood and emotionally supported.

Born August, 28,1936, into a Pocatello, Idaho family with a rich heritage of artistic creativity, cultural inclusion, and philanthropy, Gunda's father Richard Phillip Howard imparted in her a love for music and a strong sense of intellectual curiosity, while her mother Alice Clair (Nordin) Howard imbued her with a fervor for travel and cooking, not to mention a wicked sense of style.

Gunda loved school, especially the arts, and was highly creative from a young age. In addition to being a good student, she learned to play the piano, sew clothes for her dolls (and later herself), and was a gifted illustrator. Once, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she blurted out "a patron of the arts," without truly knowing what it meant. This impulsive outburst would prove prophetic and become a primary pillar of her later years.

In high school she added new interests and achievements, winning multiple medals as a member of the downhill ski team, and of particular note, she was voted the first ever female student body president of Pocatello High School.

Gunda went on to attend Idaho State University for two years before transferring to Oberlin College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature.

Following Oberlin she was accepted into Yale University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching of French, and also met her first husband Bryant C. Freeman, who was working towards his Ph.D. in 16th Century French Literature.

In the summer of 1959 they were married and moved to Paris, France, where Gunda taught French at the U.S. Embassy, while also honing her cooking skills by translating the evening lessons she took at Le Cordon Bleu Academy into authentic French meals in the tiny kitchen of their walk-up apartment. During the summers they travelled extensively across post-war Europe in the little Citroen de Chevaux they had modified into a micro-camper. In just two years, she completely filled her passport with entry and exit stamps.

They then moved to Charlottesville, VA where Gunda taught high school French at St. Annes School for girls, in addition to work as a graduate assistant at the University of Virginia where she earned a second Master of Arts in French. During her time in Charlottesville she was the church organist for the Unitarian Church, participated in Civil Rights protests, and had the honor of marching with Dr. Martin Luther King.

In the fall of 1971, following the birth of her cherished son Timothy, she relocated to Lawrence, KS - a move she initially resisted, but within a short time regarded as the last move she ever needed to make.

1978 was a watershed year for Gunda. Not only did she marry the love of her life Dr. David L. Hiebert, gaining three marvelous stepdaughters, Kimberly, Laura, and Megan, but she also joined forces with Anne Yetman as co-owners of The Bay Leaf, an iconic social and retail anchor of downtown Lawrence, purveying gourmet gifts and coffee beans, while also serving as a central hub for local news and friendship to a fiercely loyal customer base for over 25 years. Everyone in town read the Journal World, but those who really wanted the scoop simply asked Anne and Gunda, while sipping a cup of Mocha Java and perusing the latest in kitchen gadgetry.

Gunda's passion for both music and travel was shared by Dave. As they attended more and more performances together they were particularly drawn to the world class piano department at KU and befriended many of the students and professors, and decided they wanted to live closer to the university. So, in 1996 they purchased a Japanese-style home, just off campus, featuring an open, warm, and inviting living room with rich wood walls and high ceilings that gave it extraordinary acoustics. They christened it Hiebert Hall and after installing a Steinway grand piano as the centerpiece, Gunda and Dave set about filling it with beautiful art collected from their constant travels and beautiful music from the over 1,200 concerts hosted within Hiebert Hall over three decades. Not only did they provide a space for students to practice and perform, but also provided a venue for artists to connect with the community.