Ross Kunze

Ross Eldon Kunze was born May 20, 1930, the son of Walter Frederick and Bessie Irene (Rossell) Kunze in Lewis, Iowa, and passed away Friday, March 2, 2012, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atlantic, Iowa.

He lived in Cass County almost his entire life, except for a few years in Audubon County. He graduated from Lewis High School in 1948.


Ross married Betty Jenkins in Tabor, Iowa, on May 20, 1949. The couple farmed near Lewis for 17 years until a back injury kept him from farming. He then traveled the area for his insurance and estate planning business for the next 40 years.

Ross lived for God and served the church faithfully. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He loved southwest Iowa and never tired of driving the countryside and seeing the land. He was a farmer at heart all of his life.

He was a member of and served as an Elder for the Lewis Church of Christ, the Atlantic Church of Christ and the Audubon Church of Christ. Ross and his family were one of the charter families of the First Church of Christ in Atlantic. Ross was also a member of the Kiwanis and was active in the community.

Ross was preceded in death by his son, Kevin Kunze; his parents, Walter and Bessie Kunze; his brothers, Robert, Roland, Ralph, Raymond and Rod Kunze; and his sister, Marie Thompson.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Kunze of Atlantic; his sons, Kendal (Sheila) Kunze of Lewis and Kent (Julie) Kunze of Urbandale; his daughters, Kathy (Dan) Raper of Sutherland and Karla (Scott) Handley of Webb City, MO; his grandchildren, David (Brandy) Rapper of Salix, Karen (Dan) Spray of Norfolk, NE, Katie (Mark) Drzycimski of Sioux Falls, S.D., Rachael Davis of Plattsmouth, NE, Zachary (Wendy) Kunze of Bozeman, MT, Cybil (Dave) Kallestad of Belgrade, MT, Casey (Allen) Bennett of Big Timber, MT, Jodi (Chris) Eakin of Omaha, NE, Elizabeth (JC) Wyman of Griswold, Jared, Josie, Jackie and Jonah Kunze of Urbandale, Michael and Kyle Handley of Webb City, MO; 31 great-grandchildren; his brother, Richard Kunze of Lewis; his sisters, Barbara Abbott of Marquette, MI , and Deloris Sam-Guyan of Whittier, CA; numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Ross Kunze will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at the First Church of Christ in Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, Iowa.

A time for lunch and visitation will be held at the First Church of Christ in Atlantic following the committal service.

Memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ in Atlantic.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa is caring for the family.