Obituary for Omer Francis Kunkel

Omer Francis Kunkel, age 80, of Britt, IA passed away Monday, July 14, 2008 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 17 at St. Patrick''s Catholic Church, Britt. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow after the luncheon at the church. Omer, son of Bernard "Ben" and Caroline (Lang) Kunkel was born May 29, 1928 in Algona, IA. Omer was raised on the family farm along with fourteen siblings. As a young child, Omer attended parochial school at the St. Benedict Catholic School and later attended LuVerne Public School. Omer was united in marriage with Margaret Wolfe on January 13, 1953 at St. Michael''s Catholic Church in Whittemore, Iowa. The couple made their home in Bancroft, then Forest City, later outside of Britt and finally moving into Britt where they resided for 48 years. Omer was employed at several local area businesses including Farmer''s Coop & Elevator and Britt Super Value. Following his retirement, Omer enjoyed playing cards, baking, dancing, listening to polka music, hunting, fishing making jokes, cracking black walnuts, wine making, making jellies, sharing his bounty of homemade goods and recipes, and playing Bingo. He always enjoyed making people laugh. He was a member of St. Patrick''s Catholic Church, the American Legion and the VFW. Left to cherish Omer''s memory is his wife of 55 years, Margaret; one son-in-law, Bob Murphy of Dayton; four sons, Randy and his wife Laura, Wesley, Russell and his wife Terrie, Wesley, Terry, Crystal Lake, and John and his wife Renee, Woodbury, MN; two daughters, Vickie Pigman and her husband Paul, Crystal Lake and Pam Reibsamen, Wesley; 18 grandchildren, Michelle Anderson and her husband Josh, Fort Dodge, Jon Christie and his wife Megan, Stanhope, Derek Christie and Colin Murphy, Dayton, Nicole Kunkel and Tim Peterson, Forest City, Ryan Gambell, Wesley, Jason Kunkel and his wife Samantha, Des Moines, Travis, Shelby and Todd Kunkel, Wesley, Chris Perkins and his wife Susan, Hatong Town, MD, Charity Pigman and Matt Baker, Crystal Lake, Kolby and Logan Kunkel, Crystal Lake, Zoe and Ian Kunkel, Woodbury, MN, Sabrina Kunkel and Keith Sanford, Algona, and Courtney Reibsamen, Wesley; four great-grandchildren, Ethan and Clare Anderson, Fort Dodge, Mason Gambell, Wesley, and Natalie Baker, Crystal Lake; three sisters, Rita Frankl and her husband Gerald, Cherokee, Edna Zeimet, Algona, Rose Marie Schiltz and her husband Ed, Bancroft; three brothers, George Kunkel and his wife Evelyn, Algona, Virgil Kunkel and his friend Ann, Byron, MN, and Conrad Kunkel and his wife Rosella, Bancroft; four sister-in-laws, Elsie Kunkel, Britt, Josie Wetherly and her husband Sam, Algona, June Hentges, Algona, and Agatha Ludwig, Algona; and several nieces and nephews. He was greatly loved by many and will be sadly missed by his family and friends. He was proceeded in death by his parents and stepfather; two daughters, Cindy Kunkel and Judy Murphy; one grandson; four sisters, Veronica Spangler, Jean Marie Kunkel, Ileene Ptacek, and Kathleen Becker; four brothers, James, Robert, Clarence Dean, and Bernard; and one son-in-law, Jess Christie. Online condolences may be left for the Kunkel family by clicking on "Sign Guestbook" below.