Bert Kunz

Bert Kunz, 97, of Lincoln, formerly of Central City died April 21, 2016 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln, NE. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Central City. Visitation will be Friday, April 22, 2016 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church from 5-7 pm with a Vigil Service at 7 pm. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Memorials are suggested to the Heartland Veteran’s Memorial in Central City. Bert was born on June 6, 1918, at the family home in Stuart, NE. He was the ninth child of ten born to Donatus and Emma (Pettinger) Kunz. Bert attended school at Saint Boniface School and Stuart High School. Bert began working as a young boy shining shoes at the barbershop, delivering the World Herald and as a farmhand. Before graduating from high school he signed up for the Civilian Conservation Corp. Bert returned to school and received his diploma in 1938. He then moved to California and worked on a fox ranch and worked construction. While in California he attended welding school in Los Angeles and then began working as a welder in an airplane plant. Bert enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor. He was stationed several places in the United States before being stationed at Shima Island. At the end of the war he returned to the US and was discharged in October of 1945. Bert returned to Stuart and ran the Wells Café and then bought Western Auto Store. Bert was united in marriage to Edith Ann Jansen on June 12, 1946 in Atkinson, NE. They were blessed with four children; Richard, Michael, Terri and Gregg. In 1961 Bert and his family moved to Ord, NE and purchased the Ord Drive Inn. In 1977 Bert and Edith bought the Dairy Queen and made Central City their home until 2008 when they moved to Lincoln. In 2011 they moved to Grace Pointe-Tabitha in Lincoln. Bert was a member of the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Central City, American Legion Post #6, Knights of Columbus, and The Elks Club. During his retirement, Bert enjoyed golfing and woodworking. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife; his children; Rick (Kazuko) Kunz of Central City, Mike (Linda) Kunz of Ord, Terri (Dick) Dworak of Lincoln, Gregg Kunz of Lincoln; brother in law; Charles (Carolyn) Jansen of Aurora; sisters in law; Irene (Larry) Cobb of Stuart, Maryann Jansen of Stuart; 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings; Leo Kunz, Al Kunz, George Kunz, Calista Wichman, Marcella Bigalow, Florence Flanigan, Louise Preston and Bud Kunz; his sisters in law Evelyn (Lawrence) Skrdla, Mary Catherine (Ray) Estes; brother in law; Edward Jansen.

Bert Kunz

June 6, 1918 - April 21, 2016