Kraig Douglas Louis "Quack" Kuntz

1948 - 2024

Kraig Douglas Louis Kuntz

January 6, 1948 - May 24, 2024

Dr. Kraig Kuntz (Quack) 76, of Bozeman, MT. passed away on May 24, 2024 due to health complications after an accident while living in Belize.

Kraig was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 6, 1948 while his father Robert Kuntz was attending optometry school. His time was brief in Illinois as the family moved back to Helena, MT so Bob could start his optometry business. Kraig was the second sibling out of 5; Kathy, Kraig, Kyle, Kelly, and Kryss. Kraig's childhood kept him in Helena where he could chase ducks and geese in the Helena valley and occasionaly have local law enforcement chase him. He was known to be a bit of a wild child that lived his life by his own rules.

After high school, Kraig decided to enlist in the US Army, spending much of his time stationed in Korea. After serving his time in the Army, Kraig decided to come home to MT and follow in his father's footsteps in the optometry field. Along the way, Kraig fell in love and married Janna Kappes. Just like his own father, Kraig found himself back in Chicago to complete optometry school. Also just like his father, they had their first son while living there. Josh Kuntz was born shortly before Kraig finished his schooling in 1977. Shortly after graduation, Kraig and his young family decided to move back to MT, choosing Bozeman this time to start his very own optometry practice. Kraig's practice flourished in Bozeman, based off of his keen understanding of people's dislike for typical dr visits. As many of Kraig's patients have said, "It was more like going to catch up with an old friend and while I was there, he helped me see again".

In 1980, Kraig and Janna welcomed their second son Justin and decided to call it quits on any more children, realizing that he was the perfect specimen (the benefits of being the author)!

Kraig's retirement led him to possibly the only place that he loved more than Montana. Kraig spent his final 10 plus years living In San Pedro, Belize. He said more than once that the people of Belize had become his second family. Kraig spent 9 months a year down in Belize getting to know basically everyone on the island. Kraig couldn't drive his golf cart a block without someone saying hello. He was known as "Montana Kraig" on the island and to this day has lasting effects on the people there (along with a select few drink menus).

As amazing as Belize was to Kraig, Montana still won during the summertime. Kraig would spend the "good months" up at Canyon Ferry where he got to spend time with family, growing up in the exact same place he once did. One of Kraig's biggest joys was spending time with his grandkids. The grandkids loved nothing more than going on 4 wheeler rides with grandapa and sneaking up to his place to steal his dougnuts. Kraig said multiple times in his final years that nobody should ever cry over his death as he had the most amazing life anybody could ever ask for. The only thing that he really struggled with was that he would not be able to see his grandkids grow up.

As impressive as Kraig's accomplishments in his professional and personal life were, he would always much rather focus on the people around him. Kraig succeeded at literally everything he did in life; from sports, to his career to the fine art of bull sh**ting.

The list of people that meant something to him is literally too long to list here. If Kraig meant something to you and you have a story you would like to share, you are invited to celebrate Kraig's amazing life on May 17th at 12 p.m. at the York Bar outside of Helena. The York Bar happened to be one of Kraig's favorite places to spend his time. Scott and his family have been gracious enough to let us celebrate Kraig at their establishment. No need to bring anything other than stories of Kraig.