Frank H. Kunkle

KUNKLE Frank H. Frank H. Kunkle, 95, formerly of Oxford, Ohio, passed away August 7, 2009, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The son of Henry and Leah Kunkle, Frank was born March 19, 1914, in Kunkle, Ohio, the town named after his great-grandfather. Born into a family of musicians, Frank began playing the trumpet at age seven, and his musical pursuits continued from that day forward. His early performances included numerous appearances in Northwest Ohio with the Kunkle Family Orchestra. A 1932 graduate of Kunkle High School, Frank pursued a music degree at Bowling Green State University, where he was the marimba soloist with the traveling men's glee club. While attending Bowling Green, Frank met Nell Ammons, who would eventually become his wife of 67 years. After transferring to Ohio State University, Frank played the French horn in the well-known OSU Buckeye marching band and graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education in 1938. Frank and Nell were married at the Ammons family farm in Belle Center, Ohio in 1941. After teaching in Pettisville and Hicksville, the couple settled in Wauseon, where they raised three children, Frankie, Jim, and John. For 22 years, Frank directed the Wauseon High School vocal and instrumental music programs. In 1965, the Kunkles moved to Oxford, Ohio, where Frank pursued a master's of music degree in orchestra instruments at Miami University. He continued his career as an orchestra instructor at Talawanda High School. Later, he supervised music student teachers for Miami University. Frank served as music director for several church congregations, including First Christian Church in Wauseon and the Oxford United Methodist Church. In his retirement years, he directed the Oxford Community Band, participated in programs at the Senior Center, and developed a passion for writing his memoirs. His book, entitled "Frankly Speaking," is a collection of stories from his life. In May 2009, Frank and Nell moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, as members of the Fox Run community. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Kunkle and Leah Greek Kunkle; step mother, Elsie Kunkle; sisters, Winona Showers and Laura Ethel Schombert; brothers, John, Greek, and Theodore; step brother, Ralph Showers; and great-grandson, Christopher Frandsen. He is survived by his wife, Nell Kunkle; daughter, Frankie Parrott and her husband, Cal, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; son, Jim Kunkle and his wife, Patti, of Fishers, Indiana and Greeley, Colorado; son, John Kunkle and friend, Nancy Karnatz, of Canton, Michigan; half brother, Calvin Kunkle, of Tipton, Indiana; step sister, Barbara Gorrell and her husband, Don, of Toledo, Ohio; granddaughters, Callie Parrott Bower and her husband, Kevin, of Kansas City, Missouri; Alisa Frandsen and her husband, Matt, of Ames, Iowa; Amanda Pals and her husband, Andy, of West Des Moines, Iowa; Molly Parrott, of Ames, Iowa; Amy Kunkle, of Rancho Cordova, California; grandson, Robert Kunkle and his wife, Jonelle, of Greeley, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Cole, Katie, and Luke Bower; Ali and Meredith Frandsen, and Lilliana and Cailean Kunkle; other relatives and many friends. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at the Oxford United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 p.m. He will be laid to rest in the Oxford Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Oxford Senior Center or Oxford United Methodist Church. www.smithoglefuneralhome.com