Margaret Kunkel

Margaret Kunkel, 87, of Britt, passed away Saturday, August 17, 2019, at Kanawha Community Home.

A Memorial Mass for Margaret Kunkel will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 139 3^rd Street Southeast in Britt with Father Jim Dubert officiating.  Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery. 

Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Saturday, September 7.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

This amazing lady, Margaret Lorraine (Wolfe) Kunkel, was born to Henry and Margaret (Ruden) Wolfe on June 14, 1932 in West Bend at the family home. Her parents passed away when she was 13 years old. Her sister, Agatha Wolfe and Paul Ludwig, raised her. Whenever there was a baby born into the family, Margaret would go there to stay and help take of the new baby.

Margaret met her husband Omer Francis Kunkel at the Plantation Dance Hall in Whittemore. They were united in marriage on January 13, 1953 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore. The couple made their home in Bancroft, then Forest City, and later Britt. They resided there for many years and raised eight children. After Omer passed away in July of 2008, Margaret moved to an apartment in Wesley for two years before moving into the Kanawha Community Home, where she lived for the past nine years. She was everyone’s grandma there.

Margaret loved being around her family and friends. She enjoyed taking care of babies, playing cards and bingo, dancing and singing, listening to Polka music, and flowers. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Over the years, Margaret worked at various places including Westview Care Center, EF Johnson’s, Winnebago, North Central Human Services, and Opportunity Village.

Margaret is survived by her son-in-law Bob Murphy of Dayton; six children Randy (Laura) Kunkel of Wesley, Russell (Terrie) Kunkel of Wesley, Vickie (Paul) Pigman of Britt, Terry Kunkel of Crystal Lake, John (Renee) Kunkel of Woodbury, Minnesota, and Pamela Reibsamen of Wesley; 29 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and two on the way; and many other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Omer; two daughters Cynthia Kunkel and Judy Murphy; son-in-law Jess Christy; three grandchildren Sabrina Reibsamen, Colin Murphy, and an infant; four brothers Mike Wolfe, William Wolfe, Francis Wolfe, and Nick Wolfe; five sisters Rita Reiland, Agatha Ludwig, Elizabeth Baas, Leora Bower, and June Hentges.

We will miss her smile, sense of humor, and the looks she gave everyone. Love you mom, grandma and great-grandma Kunkel!

“If the good Lord’s willing and the creek doesn’t run dry.”