In Loving Memory Of
Joseph Kuntz (Kunc)
Joseph Kuntz, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, formerly of Wembley, AB, passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2020, at Prairie Lake Hospice, at the age of 95 years.
Joe was born in Kowal, Poland on September 19, 1924 to Rosalia and Karol Kuntz. In 1929, the Kuntz family came to Canada aboard a Norwegian freightliner, Oscar the Second. It was a three-week trip and Joe was only five at the time. They arrived in Halifax, NS. From there, he and his family traveled by train to Wembley, AB. Upon arrival, the spelling of their last name was changed.
Joe attended school at St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he learned to speak both English and German. The family was very poor, so he had to drop out of school by grade eight to help the family. At age 12, he helped build the family home. He pitched hay, fell trees, skidded logs, and eventually became a sawyer at numerous sawmills in BC and Alberta. Until the age of 27, Joe’s pay cheques came home to his parents to help support the family; then his dad gave him his blessing to go out on his own. Later on, Joe became a full-time farmer, often working in the winters for Nilsson Bros, and D&B Construction, including the construction of Procter & Gamble.
Joe loved the Lord Jesus Christ. It started with his confirmation in the Lutheran church which never left him. It was there he learned the scriptures. How he loved the Lord, even though he was only 14. He said that, even through his rebel years, he still loved the Lord. He came to a deep committed faith in 1958, at an Easter convention in Grande Prairie at Zion Gospel Temple (now know as Christian Fellowship Assembly). He served on the church board at Zion Gospel Temple, preached at affiliate churches, and raised his family in the knowledge of his faith. Joe and his wife Olive later attended the Grande Prairie Alliance church. He was a prayer warrior, and daily brought his family and needs before God, right up until his passing.
Joe also loved his sports. He was a pitcher and loved the game of baseball. He had tried out for a higher league while living in Quesnel, but never made the team. He also did some curling in his days, and enjoyed watching both sports until his passing.
Joe met Marian Olive Bernice Nilsson in 1955 at his brother Dan’s wedding. It was love at first sight for them both. He proposed to Olive on their first date, but she didn’t respond. They continued to correspond by letter. Joe eventually wrote that he needed to know if she was going to marry him, as he needed to build them a cabin in Valemount. Olive said yes, and they were married October 26, 1956, and moved to their two-bedroom shack, complete with lino and blue construction paper on the walls.
When Joe’s dad retired, he gave all his boys a quarter of land at the Wembley homestead. Joe bought out Paul’s portion and Joe and Olive settled into a life of farming. He became an avid farmer who was well respected in his community. They left the home quarter in 1967 and moved a half-mile north where he built a new home for his family, complete with power and running water.
Joe and Olive had four daughters: Vickie, Karen, Darlene, and Glenda. Later they took in numerous foster children. Through the foster parent program, Henry and Anne became long-term children to them, and they raised them as their own.
In 1992, while doing renovations on their home, Joe had a near-death experience where he lost his hand in a miter saw accident. The grace of God was very evident through this experience and it forced his retirement a few years later. Joe and Olive then sold their farm in Wembley and moved to a condo in Grande Prairie where Joe resided until his move to hospice.
Joe will be sadly missed by his wife of almost 64 years Olive; children: Vickie (Joe) Francoeur, Karen (Brad) Peters, Darlene (Darren) Dahl, Glenda (Darrel) Carlson, Henry Kiyawasew, and Anne Kiyawasew; grandchildren: Michelle Francoeur, Kim (Dan) Radke, Quinton (Brianna) Francoeur, Sydney (Sergio) Alonso, Mikaela (Nate) Ortiz, Karissa (Nathan) Johnson, Jared (Taylor) Dahl, Regan (Troy) Wiebe, Ashton Carlson (Caroline Auger), Madissen (Brian) Thomas, Brooklin Carlson, Tristin Carlson, Shaun Kiyawasew, and Ryan Kiyawasew; great-grandchildren: Kayden Francoeur, Olivia Francoeur, Ryder Johnson, Paisley, Johnson, Emersyn Johnson, Arlynn Johnson, Jasper Thomas, Carlan Auger, and Levi Radke; siblings Dan (Theresa) Kuntz, and Gertie Nilsson; sister in-law Vera Hansen; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their extended families.
Joe was predeceased by his parents Karol and Rosalia Kuntz; siblings: Adolf, Molly, Albertina (in Poland), Albertina II (as a child in Canada), Bertha (Felix) Pitchco, Paulina (Conrad) Rubie, and Paul (Betty) Kuntz; along with numerous in-laws, and nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2020 from 7:00-9:00pm at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.).
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 1:00pm at Oliver’s Funeral Home. Luncheon to follow. A live stream of the service will be available. Contact Oliver’s for details.
To view the Funeral Service LIVE – click here
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joseph Kuntz Kunc September 19 1924 July 19 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta