Rollie Kunz

Roland J. (Rollie) Kunz was born at the family home in Stuart, NE on July 20, 1932. His parents were Joseph and Anna (Meiergerd) Kunz. When he was young, the Kunz family moved to the farm where Rollie's grandparents, Maximillian and Emma (Sontag) Kunz, homesteaded, and resided there until he entered Parkside Manor in 2022.
Rollie attended St. Boniface Grade School until the 8th grade, then continued his education at Stuart High School from which he graduated in 1950. He served his country in the Army as a Military Policeman from 1953 to 1955. He returned to the family farm and was engaged in ranching and farming with his brothers, Paul (Bus) and Max. Rollie was a pitcher for the Stuart Town Baseball Team for many years. He loved antiquing and attending auctions and yard sales.
During his lifetime he was a member of several organizations, most memorably the American Legion Post #115. He was a 71 year continuous member. During the 1960's, the Stuart Post began to stage a Variety Show; for the first couple of years, it was men only; then the Auxiliary became involved. From there a special act was formed – the Stuart Sandhill Billies- with Rollie as the leader. The original members of the group were Andy and Jim Hytrek, Frank Murphy, John Grossman and Rollie. The group entertained for many years, not only in Stuart with the Legion Show, but for many other events in the surrounding area. One year they won first place in the Ainsworth Music in the Park Contest.
Rollie is survived by one brother Max (Helen) Kunz of Stuart; nieces Arleen (Jim) Dizona, Jeanne (Rich) McIntosh, Mary Tess Fredericks, Michelle (Dan) Mills, Diane Norman, Maxine (Joe) Leick, Peggy (Tom) Dvorak, Trish (Bob) Endorf, and Jana (Jeff) Lowe; nephews Jerry (Sheryl) Winkler, Jim (Kate) Kunz, Scott (Lori) Kunz, Brice Welte and Deb Larsen, Dan (Tam) Kunz, Ken (Jan) Kunz, and Mike (Michele) Kunz; many great and great great nieces and nephews, and many, many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Anna, Brothers Paul (Bus) and Fred (Stub) Kunz; sisters Kathryn Winkler and Joan Welte; in-laws Charles Winkler, Raydean (Slaymaker) Kunz, Grant Welte; and one nephew Kyle Welte.