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In Memory

Larry Kunz - Class of 1952

Larry Poulsen Kunz was the cherished only son born to Joseph John Kunz and Ethel Poulsen October 3,1934 in Paris, Idaho. Although he was an only child he grew up in large extended families with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins he dearly loved. He was fondly nicknamed "Lad". He played the clarinet, was football quarterback, class president and class valedictorian in Montpelier, Idaho. His playground was the rural back country of southern Idaho. He was lively, rambunctious and highly intelligent. He thumbed his way from Idaho to Provo, Utah where he attended Brigham Young University for two years until he was called to the California North Mission. He served there until he returned home to marry his sweetheart M. Tess Clayton in the Logan Temple December 17, 1954. They moved to Salt Lake City where he was hired as a bagger for Maurice Warshaw of Grand Central Stores. For 22 years he worked hard, earning his way to many responsible positions including Chief Merchant, Chief Operations Officer, and Vice President before he was recruited by General Mills to be the CEO of Lee Wards Creative Crafts, Inc. He was an innovator in business. Working with the sign shop at Grand Central Stores he pioneered picture style holiday door buster advertisements. He designed a specialty store concept, specifically for office supplies, before they actually existed. He returned to his origins where he facilitated the merger of Grand Central with The Fred Meyer Co. Additionally he served as CEO of Ben Franklin Retail Stores, Inc, then finally COO and CEO of Payless Cashways Inc. In all these ventures he revitalized and built each company into strong, solvent, expanding businesses. He took Payless Cashways Inc. public in1993 and understood early on the need to work with a foreign labor force. He negotiated with companies in Mexico to work fairly and keep product affordable to customers. He was elected to the Board of Directors for several companies including Coast to Coast Stores and Chromecraft Revington Inc. He also served on the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. He was a student of financial markets and a wise practitioner. Larry was an outdoorsman. His recollections were often of youthful years filled with hunting and fishing excursions with father and uncles. Throughout his life, spring and fall were oriented around hunting. He found some of his closest friends through their common love of the outdoors. His favorite movie was Jeremiah Johnson. He served in the LDS church with responsibilities in scouting, Elders quorum presidencies, and bishoprics. He was a gifted teacher. His method reflected his insight about how to learn, his endless curiosity, and his passion for education. He once confided he "couldn't wait to be a father". His successful career did not detract from the true family man that he was. He was the planner of Christmas, vacations, and educational opportunities for his family. Ever a devoted father, it was never truer of anyone that the most important thing a man could do for his children was to love their mother. Larry and Tess were romantic, dedicated and true in their love for each other from the time they met and fell in love. His first recollection of Tess was of her walking across the H.S. football field away from him in her pep club uniform. His devotion was absolute. He chose her always over everything else, staying right by her in the worst of times as well as the best of times. It was ever thus to the very end.

Larry was survived by three children: Debra K.Swofford (Scott), Jill K Stratton (Shane), Larry P. Kunz II (Callie), 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A memorial service was held November 20, 2013.