Obituary of Arthur Kunkel

KUNKEL - Our beloved father (Arthur Phillip Kunkel) was born Oct. 6, 1924 to Gus & Julia Kunkel. He grew up on a farm in Neudorf, Saskatchewan where he also spent his school years. Dad joined the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1943, serving in the Canadian Army until November 1945 after which time he went back to the family farm. In 1946 the family moved to the Coma Park area near Atwater, Saskatchewan where they continued to farm. In December 1948 dad married Josephine Agatha Zimmer. In 1949 his parents moved to Atwater and dad & his brother Curt took over the family farm. With a growing family and farming not being very profitable, he took a job at a mine in Wawa, Ontario in October 1957. Dad went ahead and mom followed by train later with their five small children. Approximately 4 years later in 1961, Dad found employment in construction at the potash mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. We then moved back to the Atwater area, now a family of 8 as Dallas was born in Wawa. I still remember that long drive in Dad's old Hudson. In 1962 Dad joined IMC Potash Mines as a mill operator and continued there until his retirement in 1989. Shortly after starting his new job, dad built a new house in Esterhazy. This was a significant lifestyle improvement for the entire family and times were much better than the lean years on the farm. In March 2010, tragedy struck in the form of cancer and Dad lost his beloved wife of 62 years. This was an agonizing loss for him, but being very resilient he carried on living in the same house until he was 89 years old. He finally sold the house in 2014 and moved to an apartment at Caleb Village in North Battleford close to his eldest son, Wayne. Two years later after major health issues he moved to a full care facility in North Battleford where he lived until his passing on June 18th. Predeceased by his wife Josephine; parents Gustav & Julia Kunkel; brothers George, Otto & Joe Bender; sisters Emma Annable & Margaret Adolph, and grandson Davis Lawrence Kunkel in infancy. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughter Sharon Fehr (Norm) of Fort Saskatchewan, AB; sons Wayne Kunkel (Josie) of North Battleford, SK; Lyle Kunkel (Wendy) of Salmon Arm, BC; Darcy Kunkel of Yarbo, SK; Carey Kunkel (Linda) of Meadow Lake, SK; Dallas Kunkel of Cochrane, AB. Grandchildren: Christopher Fehr, Cameron Fehr (Jennifer), Danette Kunkel Payne (Jason), Kellie Kunkel (Rudy), Matt Kunkel, Nathan Kunkel, Jason Kunkel (Jamie), Davis Kunkel, Amanda Kunkel (Jarred), Derek Kunkel, Jeremy Kunkel, step grandchildren, Melissa Welford (Mike), and sixteen great grandchildren. Also a sister, Gertie Johnson (Darrell), Curt Kunkel, Bill Kunkel (Elaine), sister-in-law Eleanor Bender, numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The funeral service was held on Monday, June 26th 2017 from the Yorkton Memorials Gardens Family Centre, Yorkton with Pastor Heike Toeller of St. Paul Lutheran Church officiating. The eulogy was given by Sharon Fehr & Cameron Fehr. Readers were Carey Kunkel, Linda Kunkel & Danette Kunkel Payne. Prayers were given by Nicholas, Kayleigh & Lena Payne. Pianist, Carla Laycock led in the hymns ‘How Great thou Art', ‘What A Friend We Have in Jesus', and ‘Amazing Grace'. Soloist, Jennifer Fehr sang ‘It Is Well With My Soul'. The interment took place in the Garden of Memories with son Wayne as the urnbearer. A reception followed in the Family Centre Reception Room. In memory of Arthur, memorials to the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family. The cremation care was entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Home, North Battleford, the funeral care was entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home, Yorkton. Service Information Monday, June 26th, 2017 2:00pm, Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens