Kenneth Friday Kuenstler

Kenneth F. Kuenstler, 84, of Belvidere died Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Northwoods Care Centre in Belvidere. He was born August 8, 1929 in Elmhurst, Illinois to Carl and Myrtle Kuenstler. He married Patricia L. Griffin on August 18, 1950 in Chicago.

Loving brother, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather. He graduated from Taft High School in 1947, and met his wife at banking school. His did his Army bootcamp traing at Fort Benjamin, IN, and served at 5th Army Headquarters at Navy Pier. He spent many years in the Banking industry working and serving as an officer at: Mercantile National Bank, First National Bank of Des Plaines, Golf-Mill State Bank, Algonquin State Bank, and first Bank of Romeoville, and served as President of NABAC. His last position was Vice President and Branch Manager of First Savings of WI in Appleton. He also earned his Realtor and Brokers licenses and worked for Starck Ralty.

He was a faithful member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Arl. Hgts. and chaperoned Luther League retreats.

He enjoyed many sports, including fishing, swimming ice skating, water skiing, cross-country and downhill skiing, golf and camping. He enjoyed spending the summers working on his cousin's dairy farm in Merrill. He was a sport aviation enthusiast and long time member of the Antique-Classic division of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), attending the convention and airshow every year, and flying his 1946 J-3 Piper Cub. He was Chairman of the Outagamie Airport Dedication airshow featuring the US Navy Blue Angels. He was a big Packer-Backer, and braved the cold at Lambeau Field. He loved to drive, and joined the family trucking business driving the C-truck, then as delivery driver for Laser Lighting, Courier for N. IL Labs, and finally Bank courier until he retired at the age of 80.

He is survived by his daughters Joyce (Jay) Koehler, Joanne (Jim) Line; grandchildren CJ Koehler, Elizabeth (Eric) MacIntyre; great-grandson Desmond James MacIntyre; brother Richard (Janet) Kuenstler; niece Christina Kuenstler and nephew Eric Kuenstler and several cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his daughter Dianne Eileen Kuenstler.

A memorial visitation will be from 1 pm until the 1:30 pm service on Sat, Jan 18 at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 6821 Main St. Union with lunch to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to a charity of your choice. Online condolences visit www.marengo-unionfuneralhome.com.