Obituary of Hal Jarvis Kunze

Hal Jarvis Kunze, age 86, of Randolph, Kansas, passed away Monday, December 10, 2012, at the Mercy Regional Medical Center in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born on July 7, 1926, in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of Eugene and Florence (Jackson) Kunze. He was married on August 5, 1950, to Delores Parry, she preceded him in death on October 13, 2006. He was a lifetime rancher in the Winkler Community northwest of Randolph, where he owned and operated the K-Bar Ranch with his dad and uncle Hugo, and then later with his son. He had received the Grassland Management Award from the Riley County Conservation District and took great pride in the appearance and preservation of the pasture land. As a youth he was very active in 4-H and played 6 man football in high school, graduating from Randolph Rural High School in 1944. He was a 4-H Beef Leader when his kids were in 4-H and also coached boys baseball and boys and girls softball. He was most comfortable on a horse, from riding to school as child to moving cattle until he could no longer ride. He was an active member of the Kansas Livestock Assn., having served on the board of directors for two terms. He was also a member of the Clay Center Elks, the Clay Center Eagles and the Clay Center Country Club. Hal is survived by one son, Darcy Kunze and wife Sheryl of Randolph; one daughter, Debra Thomas and husband Mike of McDade, Texas; three grandchildren, Brett Kunze of Chicago, Illinois, Angie Kunze of Peoria, Arizona and Nick Kunze and wife Angie of Olsburg, Kansas; one step granddaughter, Jessica Thomas of St. Charles, Illinois and two step great grandchildren, Reagan and Madison Taggert of Olsburg, Kansas. A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at the Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley, Kansas, with Pastor Kevin Larson officiating. A memorial has been established for the Kansas Land Trust.