Bryon Lee Kunkel

Byron Lee Kunkel, 96, passed away March 5, 2022 in Osage City, KS. He lived in Mankato, MN for 68 years before moving to Kansas to be near his daughter Marilyn.

Byron was born on July 5, 1925 in New Point, MO to Raymond Jackson and Annie Lauri (Edwards) Kunkel. After graduating from New Point High School, he served in WW2 as a US Army Staff Sergeant in the Asia Pacific theater.

After the war Byron graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia. In 1950 he married Marjorie May Hunt and the couple moved to Minnesota, eventually landing in Mankato. Byron's working career was with the University of Minnesota Extension Service as a County Agent for Blue Earth county where he worked with 4-H'ers and assisted farmers. He retired in 1983.

Byron had many interests, all of which he pursued diligently for decades. He played golf which frequently tested his patience! He downhill skied until he was 91! As a skilled gardener, he raised roses, apples, grapes and vegetables. He tapped maple trees and made maple syrup. Using his own produce, he canned vegetables, made sauerkraut, fermented grapes into wine and apples into cider. Most observers agreed that his cider was better than his wine!

Marjorie passed away in 1981. From their marriage, Byron is survived by son Steve (Shirley) Kunkel, daughter Marilyn (David) Davies, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

In 1988 Byron marred Sonja Lee Miller. He was very close to Sonja's five children. He is survived by former wife Sonja, her children: Robin (Bob) McGuire, Alison (Pam Klossner) Miller, Kris (Norma) Miller, Shelly (Dale) Bauer, Emilee DeCoteau and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Graveside services and inurnment with military honors: Saturday, June 11, 2022, 4:00 pm, Cowan Cemetery, New Point, Missouri. Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice.