Submitted by: S. Vanden Bossche

South Bend Tribune - 02/18/2009

Kunz, Paul T.

Feb. 17, 2009 MISHAWAKA - Paul T. Kunz, 82, of Mishawaka, died Tuesday in his home. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Karen Bland and Karolyn Kunz; sons, Kenneth and Kippy Kunz, all of Mishawaka; stepsons, Richard and Jerrold Clowers of South Bend; and two sisters, May Kovacs and Joan Phillips. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday where members of Independent Order of Odd Fellows will conduct a memorial service at 7 PM Friday. Memorials to Penn North Fire Dept. or to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc.

South Bend Tribune - 02/20/2009

Paul T. Kunz
Dec. 31, 1926 - Feb. 17, 2009 MISHAWAKA - Paul T. Kunz, 82, residing in Mishawaka, IN, passed away peacefully at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 31, 1926 in Toledo, OH to Walter & Eva (Lowe, ) Kunz, and moved to the South Bend-Mishawaka area in 1946 coming from Ohio. Mr. Kunz retired in 1984 from the Bendix Corp. following 30 years of employment. He was a member of Northway Church of Christ, South Bend, member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows Robert Blume Lodge #278, where he also served as Past Grand Master, Past Grand Patriarch of Grand Encampment of Indiana, and received the Meritorious Medal and Grand Decoration of Chivalry. He was also Department Commander and Judge Advocate General of the World Organization. He was a member of LaPorte Lodge # 36, I.O.O.F., He retired from Penn Twp. North Fire Dept. following fifty-one years of service. Paul also served as Democratic Precinct Committee Chairman since 1954. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp during WWII in Iwo Jima, the Philippines, and decorated the tomb of the Unknown Soldier two times at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC. He was a member of American Legion Post #308, Osceola. For many years, Paul gave Fire Dept. tours for the school children at Elsie Rodgers and Kennedy Schools in Mishawaka. He also loved playing Santa Claus for many years, and bought presents for many of the needy children he met during that time. On February 14, 1948 in South Bend, he was united in marriage to Opal McGee who preceded him in death on August 19, 1996. Then on December 20, 1997 in South Bend, he married Joyce Clowers who survives. Also surviving Paul are two daughters, Karen (Jim) Bland and Karolyn Kunz, both of Mishawaka, two sons, Kenneth (Linda) Kunz and Kippy Kunz, both of Mishawaka, and two step-sons, Richard (Connie) Clowers and Jerrold (Pam) Clowers both of South Bend. Seventeen grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, May (Elmer) Kovacs of Rossford, OH, Joan (Robert) Phillips of White Pigeon, MI; and three sisters-in-law, Nancy Knell and Kathleen Kunz of Toledo, and DeEtta Kunz of Genoa, OH, survive Paul as well. His first wife, Opal, a son, Paul T. Kunz II, in Oct. 1948, a daughter, Rev. Kathryn Kunz, June 1, 2003, and four brothers, Walter, Robert, Berlin & Fred, preceded Mr. Kunz in death. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Rev. Ed Erskin will officiate. Graveside services and military rites will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m. today, February 20, at the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park where members of Oddfellows along with Canton Guards will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m. today. Memorials may be offered to Penn Twp. North Fire Dept. or Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.