Max L Kunz

Max LeRoy Kunz was born April 22, 1930, to Joseph P. and Anna J. (Meiergerd) Kunz on a farm northeast of Stuart. He was the fifth of six children. As a child, the family moved many times, eventually ending up on the family farm that his grandfather, Maximilian Kunz, homesteaded.

He attended St. Boniface grade school, often walking the three and a half miles from the farm with his siblings, Joan and Rollie. About age ten, he developed pneumonia and was bed-ridden. While recuperating, he listened to baseball games on the radio and became an avid life-long New York Yankees fan. In 2001, he realized a dream when he and Helen got to attend two Yankees games in Yankee Stadium. They arrived home September 10th. Max loved baseball and was the catcher for Stuart's town team for several years.

In 1947, Max graduated from Stuart High School, the first male of his family to do so. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in January of 1952 and was stationed in Japan at the end of the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954. After returning from military duty, he returned to the farm and engaged in farming and ranching with his brothers, Bus (Paul) and Rollie, forming Kunz Brothers partnership.

On June 9, 1958, Max married Helen M. Vitt at St. Patrick's Church in O'Neill. To this union, eight children were born – Diane, Maxine, Peggy, Patricia, Daniel, Kenneth, Jana, and Michael.

He was a life-time member of St. Boniface Church. In the 1980's, he served as Commander of American Legion Post #115, where he was a continuous member for 72 years. Through the years, Max also held numerous positions in various community organizations, including the Stuart Public School Board, St. Boniface Parish Council, the Knights of Columbus, and Borad of Directors for the Niobrara Valley Electric Corporation, where he served for 15 years.

Max is survived by his loving wife, Helen of 67 years; his children: Diane Norman of Crawford, Maxine (Joe) Leick of Cozad, Trish (Bob) Endorf of Fairbury, Jana (Jeff) Lowe of Hays, KS, and Peggy (Tom) Dvorak, Dan (Tam) Kunz, Ken (Jan) Kunz, and Mike (Michele) Kunz, all of Stuart. He is also survived by his 22 grandchildren and their spouses: Shane (Keri) Norman, Clint Norman, Luke (Erin) Norman, Brett Norman, Seth (Claire) Leick, Allyn Leick, Adam (Sarah) Dvorak, Kyle Dvorak, Jenna (Matthew) Sobotka, Randii Endorf, Sydne (Cameron) Sims, Drew (Michaela) Endorf, Rebecca (Michael) Welsh, Max William (Megan) Kunz, Heather (Robert) Stout, Zachary (Rachel) Kunz, Kennison (fiancé Juan) Kunz, Jett Kunz, Hayden (Kelsey) Lowe, Jillian Lowe, Harrison Lowe, and Graham Stephenson; his 26 Great Grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Anna, brothers Paul (Bus), Fred (Stub), and Rollie; sisters Kathryn Winkler and Joan Welte; in-laws Charles Winkler, Raydean (Slaymaker) Kunz, and Grant Welke; nephew Kyle Welte; infant grandson Paul Kunz; and great grandsons Liam Sims and Sampson Norman.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Parkside Manor, St. Boniface Church, Legion Post #115, or Stuart Fire Department.