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In Memory

Paul Kunz - Class of 1950

Paul Roy Kunz, 83, passed away on May 10, 2016 after a long and courageous 13-year battle from the debilitating effects of a stroke he suffered in January of 2003. Paul was born June 20, 1932 to Parley Peter and Hilda Irene Stoor Kunz in Bern, Idaho. He was the eighth of 13 children. He attended school in Bern through the 8th grade and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1950. He married Marlene Shirley Stevens, his high school sweetheart, in the Logan Temple in 1952. Together they raised 5 sons and 2 daughters. Paul and Marlene would have celebrated 64 years of marriage on June 20, 2016.

Paul was a successful farmer and loved to work and till the land, enjoying the cycle of the harvest and marveling in the fruits of his labor. He loved ranching and agriculture and he had a passion for tinkering and invented many ways of making farming easier and more productive. Some of his other occupations included: school bus driver, mechanic, recapping tires, and working as a switchman & conductor for Union Pacific Railroad. He was a “Jack of All Trades” whose skills included building homes, drilling wells, master craftsman, and welding. Everyone knows Paul was a hard worker. Often he would recruit his family to be part of his “surprise, surprise” work projects. One of his most satisfying accomplishments was being instrumental in the restoration of the Bern, Idaho Cemetery.

Paul is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many ward and stake callings. He served as Bern Ward financial clerk for 17 years and also as the Montpelier Stake clerk and auditor. However, one of his most memorable callings was teaching Sunday school to the 17 and 18 year old teenagers. He served with his wife as a stake missionary over the Book of Mormon Placement Program. He had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and over the past 13 years, the highlight of Paul’s week was attending sacrament meetings.

Paul is survived by his eternal companion, Marlene, and children, Kelly (Anne) Kunz of Bern, Idaho; Shirley (Neil) Harris, Montpelier, Idaho; Kim (Melodie) Kunz, Templeton, California; Kurt Kunz, Orem, Utah; Teresa Doman Kunz, Montpelier, Idaho; Paulene (Patrick) Manning, King Salmon, Alaska; Karl (Janalee) Kunz, Orem, Utah and Kenneth (Kandice) Kunz, Orem, Utah. Eight siblings; LaRue Spencer, LaVaun Hanson, Dale Kunz, Naomi Kunz, Phillip (Joyce) Kunz, Eva (Garylee Berry), Richard (Buelah) Kunz and Arthur (Linda) Kunz; forty grandchildren and seventy great grandchildren.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters: Fern Galloway, GeNiel Smith and Carol Howell, one brother, Owen Kunz and one great granddaughter Kiley Kunz.

Funeral Services will be held in the Bern Ward Chapel on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. with a viewing there from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services. There also will be a viewing held on Tuesday evening, May 17, 2016 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Schwab-Matthews Mortuary. Interment will be in the Bern Cemetery.