Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz passed away yesterday 6/16/2018

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Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz passed away yesterday 6/16/2018

Dan Arnes
Administrator
This post was updated on .
Notified by Tommy Decker this afternoon that Seawolf Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz, AMH2 (ROH), Gunner, Det 8, 5/31/1969 to 5/20/1970, passed away yesterday 6/16/2018.

Wife said he went to hospital in Enterprise, OR and was medivac'ed to Boise, ID where he passed away.
He will be cremated with services later. Tommy will let us know when wife knows arrangements.
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Re: Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz passed away yesterday 6/16/2018

kid purington
                                   ...Rest in Peace Seawolf...

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Re: Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz passed away yesterday 6/16/2018

Russell
I remember Kuntz from Det 8   Strong as a bull. You could count on him to get the job done.  Proud to served with him.




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Obituary for Seawolf Association LIFE Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz

Dan Arnes
Administrator
This post was updated on .
In reply to this post by Dan Arnes
Obituary for Seawolf Association Life Member Wayne Lynn Kuntz, AMH2 (ROH), Gunner, Det 8, 5/31/1969 to 5/20/1970.

Obituary for Wayne Lynn Juntz

Wayne Lynn Kuntz
1947 - 2018
Wayne Lynn Kuntz was born to Henry Frank Kuntz and Ola Velma Friend Kuntz on December 28, 1947 in Akron, Colorado. Jesus wrapped his loving arms around him and took him home on June 16, 2018 at Boise Veterans Medical Center.
After birth, his parents welcomed him home four miles north of Wiladale to the basement of the house they were in the process of building after the war. He had a bout with rheumatic fever as a baby and thankfully came through that. He welcomed into his family his sister, Alta Ivern Kuntz in October of 1949. Two years later, his father Henry, lost his battle with brain cancer on November 8, 1951. For the next five years, he might be found playing on a hay stack pretending to be shot, rolling down the bales, hanging out with his Granny or Gramps and their family, who lived a mile away, riding a beet truck or going on other odd jobs with his mom.
Eventually, his mom ran the cafe in Anton and Wayne spent lots of time playing with kids around Anton and went to school through the sixth grade there.
Ola married Alden Ray Willis in December of 1955, and he had a dad again, so they moved to a small farm north of Anton. Along came a baby sister, Kala Rae Willis in February 1957. You might find him herding his sheep, swimming in the crick, climbing trees, learning to play the clarinet, shooting a BB gun, reading the funny paper or playing with his sisters in this time of life.
The opportunity for a larger mail route came available so the family moved to Flagler, Colorado in July of 1960. There, he started seventh grade at Flagler School. Wayne was a serious student, a good athlete, and especially enjoyed football, basketball and baseball. He was confirmed into the Lutheran Church in Flagler. You might find him fishing, boating, boxing, helping the elderly folks in the neighborhood, running a paper route, helping his dad or grandpa, mowing lawns, talking someone into playing catch or practicing a sports activity during these years.
Before graduating from high school in 1966, he enlisted in the Navy. He began serving November 16, 1966 went to boot camp in San Diego, California, went to Vietnam and resided on an air craft carrier. He was a gunner with the Navy Sea Wolves on a helicopter and specialized in hydraulics. He served and was honorably discharged on May 26, 1970. The Navy bestowed on him the honors of a Bronze star, a Vietnam service medal, a Navy accommodation medal and Air Medal (with Strike-Flight Numeral 1).
He was an active member of the Legion and VFW. He served as commander at the Legion Post 81 after he came home from the service and was living in Flagler. He also transferred his Hugo VFW membership to the VFW in Enterprise Oregon.
When he returned home from the service, he took over the mail route from his folks, drove 165 miles a day from Flagler to Anton to Cope, back to Anton then back to Flagler. He ran the mail route for 28 years. On May 26, 1973 he married Luann Morgner, who was teaching at the Arickaree School at the time. They were divorced in May of 1984. He graduated as the Department Student of the Year in Automotive Mechanics on May 23, 1980 with a certificate from the Northwest Kansas Area Vocational-Technical School in Goodland, Kansas and did his own mechanic work to keep the mail route cars running. He also did some local mechanic work at this time. On April 2, 1987 he married Belinda Pelton from Wray, Colorado. She worked in a music store in Wray. They enjoyed dogs, music and making their house beautiful. Being a part of a huge family was a fun experience for Wayne. Dean and Mae Pelton openly welcomed him into their family. Belinda and Wayne hosted many fun family Thanksgivings with large crowds to feed. Usually, he smoked the meat for the occasion. They both carried mail, he also worked in the prison system as a guard, worked at a fertilizer plant and did odd jobs between 1998 through 2004. An accident occurred when Wayne fell off of the fertilizer plant, broke bones in his legs, which caused him a lengthy recovery time, arthritis and a lot of pain. Due to this accident and the effects of the stress and chemical exposure at war, retirement became his best choice.
In August 2004, they decided to move to Enterprise, Oregon, their current home. They chose a place where hunting, fishing and beauty were close at hand and he enjoyed a community of loving people, including Belinda's sister and family. They made a habit of playing music at the nursing home on Saturdays and at the Community Connections Meal sites.
Wayne faithfully sang the church opening song at the Grace Lutheran Church and extended his country and gospel singing into the service and other events when needed. Many of his hours were spent doing leathercraft, ceramics, practicing music and biblical studies. Leathercraft book marks, key fobs and crosses were his favorite gifts to give away, which he enjoyed numerous times. His dogs, the deer and birds in their neighborhood were all well taken care of by Wayne.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor, his name was put on the USS Yorktown carrier ship, which has now been made into a museum in Charleston, South Carolina. Wayne and Belinda made the trip there for the honor. They enjoyed trips to visit family during this time.
The access to medical care and transportation through the VA were commendable. Surgeries on his feet, cancer treatments and medical needs initiated trips to Seattle, Walla Walla, Portland and Boise. Wayne seemed content in his home and town. He enjoyed writing letters and keeping in touch with those he loved.
Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Henry Kuntz; mother, Ola Willis; step dad, Alden Willis; father and mother-in-law, Dean and Mae Pelton; beloved grandparents; uncles; aunts; and cousins.
Left to mourn him is his loving wife, Belinda Kuntz; sisters, Alta Story of Panama City Florida, Kala Doane and husband, Terry, of Anton, Colorado; local sister-in-law, Elitha Beck and husband, Dan, of Enterprise, Oregon; aunt Norma Heany and husband, Marv, of Littleton, Colorado; and uncle Arnold Friend of Aurora, Missouri. He will be missed by a host of dear sisters and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
A military send off and celebration are being planned for August 1, 2018 in Enterprise, Oregon.
Peace is at hand. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.
- Psalms 62:1
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Bollman Funeral Home, 315 West Main Street, Enterpise, Oregon. 97828.
Published in Akron News-Reporter on June 28, 2018

Dan
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Re: Update on Memorial scheduled for Seawolf Wayne Kuntz

Barb Ely
In reply to this post by Dan Arnes
An update on the Memorial for Seawolf Wayne Kuntz  
A military send off and celebration are being planned for August 1, 2018 * 2:00pm at the Grace Lutheran Church * 409 W. Main St * Enterprise, Oregon.

All Seawolves who live in the area are encouraged to attend and pay their respects.

Peace is at hand. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. - Psalms 62:1

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Bollman Funeral Home, 315 West Main Street, Enterpise, Oregon. 97828.