Gary Allen KUNZ

1939 - 2017

KUNZ, Gary Allen

Gary Allen Kunz passed away at Hospice House December 7, 2017 after a courageous three-plus year battle with brain cancer. Gary was born April 28, 1939 to Hans and Ruth Kunz. He was the youngest of three children. He attended Trent Elementary and graduated from West Valley High School in 1957. Gary met Beverly Glatt (out dancing - their favorite thing to do) and married in March 1963. They spent a wonderful and dedicated 54 years together. Gary was drafted into the Army serving two years in Fort Knox Kentucky where they welcomed their first born son Jeffrey in 1964. After being discharged they moved back to Spokane where they welcomed their first daughter Tonie in 1966 and then the big surprise of triplets - Jon, Jason, and Audra in 1968. Gary worked for the Canteen Company and went on to URM Food Services where he worked his whole career and retired in 1999 after a forklift accident. Gary enjoyed many things in this life. Of great passion was his yard - never a blade out of place. He enjoyed many summers with family and friends out at Loon lake, Liberty lake, and the river where he taught his kids how to water ski, drive the boat, and fish. Always outside he was, hence the permanent tan. As for indoors, Fall/Winter was all about football, playing cards and bowling with the Culters. In his younger years, he loved going dancing with Bev and friends and running fast in his '55 T Bird or Baum's '57 Corvette. Gary was an avid water skier and he certainly enjoyed hunting for pheasant with his dad and brothers-in-law and fishing for walleye down at Hawk Creek and 7-Bays with John Lamers, Ron Seybold and his kids. Gary took pride in teaching his kids how to work for a dollar, purchase carefully what you need, and "If you take good care of it - it should last you forever." Gary made his stuff last and the Big Banana is a testament to that! After retirement, Gary loved putting around his shop and took on many projects with joy. Gary could fix anything and he loved sharing his skills and knowledge with those around him. It's not possible to count the many projects he did with his neighbors, especially Wayne Weller. Gary had a big heart, accepted everyone, and he was there to help anyone with anything. He loved shooting the breeze and solving the world's problems with Maury Flynn over a cup of coffee in the Front Street. He was certainly a neighbor's neighbor! Gary was kind of dry, but also quite witty and funny. There really wasn't a person that didn't like Gary. Gary loved his NASCAR, football, ZAGS basketball and he typically had a cold beer in his hand, especially when eating some delicious smoked salmon. He loved playing cards at Aces Casino and traveling/cruising with his wife and friends. His favorite cruise was the trip to Alaska with Shirley, Ray, Willard, Teresa, and Bev. Probably one of Gary's most treasured times traveling was the time he spent three days on the USS Enterprise (aircraft carrier) with his sons as they were coming home from their first Navy deployment. Gary is survived by his loving family: Beverley, Jeffrey, Tonie (Tim) Silva, Jon, Jason, Audra (Mark) Henry; and three grandchildren, Madison, Draven, Lilia, and two step-grandchildren Shawnee and Chayton; as well as both his sisters Shirley (Ray) Kilpatrick and Janet Madri; his sister-in-law Cyrilla Nixon, and many nieces and nephews. Gary had a lot of close and dear loving friends and he cherished them all! A memorial of Gary's life will be held at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 North Pines Rd., on Saturday, January 13 at 2 PM. To follow - as Gary always loved his family and friends to gather together - a " Celebration " of his life will be held at the Spokane Valley Event Center at University City - 10514 E. Sprague Ave. (behind Rosauer's and Darcy's). In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Shriners Hospital or Saint Jude Children's Hospital. Online condolences may be expressed at hennesseyvalley.com.