James A Kunkel

Jim was born on March 27th, 1942, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His parents were William Kunkel and Bertha Heitkamp Kunkel. Jim went to school at St. Adrian Catholic School and later Slayton High School, where he graduated in 1960. He married Ann Carlson in 1964, and they had three children; Lorna, Joel and Diana. He shared his love of traveling with his family and they enjoyed many trips across the country. Jim worked for Lona Lumber, the Marshall Police Department, and the Murray County Sheriff’s Department, where he also worked boat patrol on Lake Shetek during the weekends. He got a trucking job with United Van Lines, and trucked for several other transportation companies over the years. Jim loved trucking and meeting different people as he traveled throughout the continental United States. He also enjoyed working for the John Deer shop in Slayton, Minnesota. Jim was a very talented carpenter and enjoyed woodworking. Jim married Shirley Jean Shelton in 1995. They enjoyed many loving years together, traveling and visiting family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Shelton Kunkel; parents, William Kunkel and Bertha Heitkamp Kunkel; as well as his daughter, Lorna Kunkel (Chris) Hall.

He is survived by his son, Joel (Michaele) Kunkel; daughter, Diana Kunkel (Erik) Ogden; stepdaughters Linda (Lonnie) Rockwell and Carol Johnson; son-in-law, Chris Hall; grandchildren, Nathan Hall, Nicholas Hall, Anthony Abbott, Kailee Kunkel, Austin Kunkel, Annika Ogden and Kirsten Ogden; great grandchildren, Natalee, Lily, Aylin and Cheyenne; and numerous cousins.

Jim is loved by many and will be greatly missed.

The family would like to thank all of the nurses and care providers at North Kansas City Hospital, as well as all of their family and friends who have supported them at this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to the Humane Society of the United States (humanesociety.org) as Jim loved animals, and allowed his children to have many!

For further information, please contact: Diana Kunkel Ogden at [email protected] or Joel Kunkel at [email protected].