Fred Kunkel

Fred L. Kunkel, 92, of Brainerd, died November 11 at Bethany Covenant Home in Minneapolis. Fred was born to Joseph and Mae (Black) on September 18, 1911 in Shambaugh, IA. He moved with his family at an early age to the family farm near Pillager. He graduated from Pillager High School. As a young man he spent several years working in the fruit orchards in Washington State. He was united in marriage to Doris Anderson on June 4, 1942 in Uppsala. He entered the United States Army during World War 11 and served in the European Theatre with the 95th Infantry Division. He fought in the Battle of the Metz and Battle of the Bulge. Following his honorable discharge he moved to Brainerd and worked at Nash Finch from 1945 ? 1953. In 1953 the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he built a church for the Baptist General Conference. They returned to the Brainerd Area where he worked at Lakeland Color Press until his retirement in 1976. His wife Doris died in May of 1961. In 1971 he married Helen Johnson of Storden. She died in April of 1984. He moved to the Bethany Covenant Home in Minneapolis to be near his family in November 2002. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Baxter. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
Fred is survived by daughter, Kathy (Richard) Magnus of Chicago, IL; son, Bruce (Sherrie) Kunkel of Arden Hills; stepsons Lyndon Johnson of Peoria, Arizona, Dennis Johnson of Mankato; sister Bernice Nelson of Coon Rapids; 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. His wife, Doris, wife, Helen, parents and 2 sisters Wilma Knoll and Lucille Nelson preceded him in death.

Services will be held at 11 AM Saturday, November 15 at First Baptist Church of Baxter with Reverend David Grotzke officiating. Friends may visit from 5 to 8 PM Friday, November 14 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the First Baptist Church of Baxter or Bethel College & Seminary of St. Paul. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter/Brainerd. Submitted By Brenny Funeral Chapel PO Box 623 Brainerd, MN 56401 218-828-5051