John Richard Kunz

Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Connection Church.

He is survived by his wife, Donna DaLee; one son, Brian of Englewood; two daughters, Gretchen White of Westminster and Alison Pearce of Fort Mill, South Carolina; two brothers, Rick of Denver and Terry of Cañon City; two sisters, Mollye Graber of Pueblo and Anna Ruble of Colorado City; and 13 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to Connection Church, 402 Grand Ave., Grand Junction 81501; or to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81501.

John Kunz

May 15, 1943 - June 23, 2015

For most people who hear the word cancer from a person in a white coat, a marathon lies ahead. Leave it to John Kunz to turn it into more of a Steve McQueen-style car chase. It might seem like the cancer won, but it died with John's body. John, however, lives.

John Richard Kunz was born to Willard and Alice (Eichten) Kunz on May 15, 1943 in New Ulm, Minnesota. He was the second oldest of seven kids. John's surviving siblings are Rick Kunz, Terry Kunz, Mollye Graber, and Anna Ruble. After graduating from high school, he proudly served in the United States Air Force.

John met Donna (DaLee) Kunz in Denver, Colorado after tripping over her foot at a social function. He suavely parlayed that moment into a nearly 47-year marriage that unleashed three kids into the world. John said so-long for now to Gretchen Kunz White, Alison Kunz-Pearce, and Brian Kunz.

He dearly loved his thirteen grandchildren, Nichole, Aidan, Ryley, Samuel, Thomas, Joel, Alexander, Benjamin, Beatrix, Christopher, Archie, Theodore, and Oliver. John happily let them dip into his impressive cookie stash while dazzling them with stories of his wild youth. It is everyone's hope none of them finds a wrench that opens local fire hydrants.

John worked for Colorado Workman's Comp until his retirement in 1998. When he wasn't working, he spent his time fishing, camping, golfing, and supporting the Denver Broncos through thick, thin, thin, and thin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Michael Kunz and James Kunz.

John fiercely loved his family and country. While he was private about his faith, he knew Jesus to be his Savior.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27th, 2015 at Connection Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. A private interment will follow at a later date.

John's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing caregivers at HopeWest. Memorial contributions may be made to Connection Church or Hope West in the name of John Kunz.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on June 26, 2015

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