Gerald E. Kuntz Sr.

Gerald Kuntz Sr., 83, of Kankakee, passed away Saturday morning (Jan. 12, 2013) at the Miller Center in Kankakee. Gerald was born June 25, 1929, in Kankakee, the son of Frank and Irma (Burgess) Kuntz. He graduated from Herscher High School and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War era. He was employed by Commonwealth Edison for 44 years, where he retired from in 1993. Gerald also operated Kuntz Brothers Antenna Service for 40 years with his brothers, Laverne and Wayne, and with the help of his nine sons. On Feb. 14, 1953, Gerald was joined in marriage to the former Mildred Eleanor Russell of Houston, Texas. They fell in love after being introduced by Leon Pommier at a USO dance while stationed at Ellington Air Force Base. Gerald and Eleanor were devout members of St. Teresa Catholic Church for 57 years, first joining the parish in 1956. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Teresa Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Kankakee. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Teresa Catholic Church Council of Catholic Women. Gerald dedicated his life to his profound belief in God, to St. Teresa Catholic Church, his lifelong devotion to prayer and belief in his final salvation in Heaven. His days started and ended by saying the rosary, every single day of his adult life was dedicated to prayer. This daily devotion carried over into his unparalleled love of family, and extraordinary upbringing of his family of 10 children with wife, Eleanor. His nurturing ways, never-ending encouragement, capacity to love, and daily reminder that "God gives you everything," made him shine beyond his very existence. He will be thoroughly missed. Mr. Kuntz enthusiastically supported his children through many seasons and thousands of sporting events, notably cheering enthusiastically from the front row at Kankakee Jaycees Little League, Elks PONY League, Eastside Bulldogs Midget Football, Eastridge High School and Bishop McNamara Catholic High School events. Mr. Kuntz passionately provided unparalleled encouragement and motivation to his children and teammates, to this day still clearly remembered by all. Surviving are his nine sons and one daughter, Frank Edward and Olivia, of Las Vegas, Gerald Jr. and Marla, of Bourbonnais, John, of Poulsbo, Wash., Joseph and Renee, of San Antonio, Texas, Thomas and Maureen, of Aurora, Philip and Kathy, of Fishers, Ind., Matthew and Lisa, of Western Springs, Patrick and Renata, of Heidelberg, Germany, Michael and Sandy, of St. Anne, and Mary and Adam Lee, of Kankakee. Surviving besides his 10 children are 27 grandchildren, Brad and Tiffany, Jill and Marc Naese, Kellie, Keith, Sarah, Aaron, Sammy, Abigail, Elizabeth, Tommy, Kevin, Brian, Ryan, Clay, Rebecca, Joshua, Alexander, Austin, Matthew, Andrew, William, Jake, Ben, Camille, Graham, Landon and Adam Jr.; four great-grandchildren, Grant and Lincoln Naese, Delaney and Logan Kuntz; twin sister, Geraldine and Francis McGregor, of Bonfield; and sisters-in-law, Josephine, of Kankakee, and Maxine, of Bourbonnais. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Benjamin, Leo and Doris, Russell and Marie, Laverne, and Wayne; sisters, Rita and Harold Clodi, Lorraine and Jim Blan, and Regina and Francis Goselin; daughter-in-law, Catherine F. Kuntz; and his beloved and faithful wife of 56 years, Mildred Eleanor Kuntz. Gerald's tireless dedication to raising his family, the resulting lifetime of sacrifice and hard work, and enduring love that continued for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was only equaled by his continuous acts of generosity and kindness to others throughout his life. Whether it be a helping hand, an encouraging word, a motivating nudge, a celebrated photo, a brief prayer, or him just stopping by — he in his unique way inspired all around him, providing all he touched a living spiritual example to follow, a true child of God. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Teresa Church Council of Catholic Women. - http://www.stteresacatholics.org/

Gerald E. Kuntz Sr.

June 25, 1929 - January 12, 2013