Kenneth D. Kunert, 91, of Humboldt, passed away January 3, 2017 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt. Burial will be in Indian Mound Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
Kenneth Dale Kunert, the son of Emil and Daisy (Chaffee) Kunert, was born April 16, 1925 on the family farm in Grove Township, Humboldt County. He attended Grove Township country schools and graduated from Humboldt High School. Following his education, Ken worked for the war effort in the Hemp Plant in Humboldt and in 1951, worked for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad laying rails. He then went to work for Agrico in Humboldt for 17 years. On August 8, 1959, he was united in marriage to Jean and the couple made their home in Humboldt where they raised their family. Ken took a position with the State of Iowa and served as an OSHA Inspector for many years until his retirement in 1987. Mrs. Kunert passed away in April of 2010 and Ken continued to maintain his home until becoming a resident of the Humboldt Care Center South in 2011. In 2015, he made his home at the Long Term Care Unit of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital.
Ken was an active member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Humboldt. A music lover all of his life, Ken was a member of the church choir, played the harmonica, and sang with the Four Bits of Harmony Barbershop Quartet for many years. He loved nature and enjoyed camping and fishing trips, feeding geese and deer at the pond and river, and trips to Guttenberg with Jean to watch the leaves turn in the fall.
Ken is survived by his daughters, Pamela Kunert of Iowa City and Paula Myers of Humboldt; step-daughters, Diane (Ray) Kunert of Humboldt, Sandy (Dr. Kenneth) Pride of Humboldt, and Susan (Darryl) Wilson of Humboldt; 8 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and brother, Ray (Diane) Kunert of Humboldt. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean in 2010; stepdaughter, Patricia Wellendorf; grandchildren, Dana and Darci; and his brother, Melvin Kunert.