Obit: Kunick, Thelma H. (1921 - 2007)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kunick, Bedroske, Viergutz, Beawer, Schauss, Sonju, Schlais, Avilez, Roberts, Willner, Bauer, Penning, Ludwig, Okon

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Kunick, Thelma H. (9 June 1921 - 16 Oct. 2007)

Thelma Kunick

COLBY -- Thelma Kunick, 86, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, at the Colonial Center in Colby.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at Zion Lutheran Church, Colby.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Community Funeral Home, Colby. There will be a VFW Auxiliary service at 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Visitation will also be from 2 p.m. until service time Sunday at the church.

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----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Friday, October 19, 2007

Thelma H. Kunick

COLBY -- Thelma H. Kunick, 86, of Colby, died Tuesday, Oct. 16. 2007, at the Colonial Center Nursing Home in Colby.

Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colby with a one-hour visitation preceding the funeral.

Pallbearers will be Scott Kunick, Eric Kunick, Jeffrey Kunick, Dave Bedroske, Theo Ludwig, Donald Viergutz and Gerald Viergutz. Burial will take place immediately thereafter at the Colby Memorial Cemetery where military honors will be performed.

Family and friends may visit from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, at the Community Funeral Home in Colby. There will be a VFW Auxiliary service at 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

All arrangements are being handled by Maurina Community Funeral Home.

Thelma was born June 9, 1921, in Colby to Marie (Beawer) Schauss and Henry Schauss. She attended Zion Lutheran grade school and graduated from Colby, Wis. High School. Thelma relocated to Milwaukee, living with her Aunt Frieda, where she began working for Cutler-Hammer as a plastic molder of war-related parts. Thelma joined the Navy Waves on Feb. 12, 1944, as part of her service during World War II. She attended Hunter College in New York City and Oklahoma College in Stillwater, Okla. Thelma served as a Yeoman Second Class Petty Officer at Great Lakes Training Center, Chicago, Ill., in the Torpedo School, the Fleet Hometown News Center and then in discharges at the Great Lakes Training Center.

While Thelma was working at Cutler-Hammer, employees were encouraged to start a letter-writing campaign with former employees that had enlisted in the military. Thelma met Melvin Kunick through this work-related effort as his pen pal. They fell in love and married Aug. 14, 1944, in Milwaukee, just days before Melvin was to depart for his final training prior to shipping out to Europe. Thelma received her honorable discharge in October 1945.

When the war was over, Melvin and Thelma settled in Colby. During her lifetime, Thelma worked at JCPenney and ShopKo. She became a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant and worked at Saint Joseph's Hospital, the Colonial House in Colby and the Continental Manor in Abbotsford, Wis. She served proudly as the activity director at the Continental Manor for a number of years.

Thelma was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was involved with Bible study class, Vacation Bible School and confirmation class. Thelma sang with the church choir and was a member of the Hand Bell Ringer choir. She was on the Zion Lutheran school board, director of Evangelism, and held several offices in the Ladies Aid Society and the Sewing circle as the secretary. She was an active supporter of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League.

Thelma served on the Colby Library Board and the Election board. She was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and served as a past president. Thelma had many hobbies. She was an avid reader, loved to sew, knit, crochet and needlework. She made many lovely afghans, quilts and other craft items. She found great joy in making and sharing her afghans and other gifts with her family and friends. She would often display and sell her crafts at thrift sales for fundraisers at her church.

Preceding Thelma in death was her beloved husband, Melvin, and her parents.

Thelma is survived by a daughter, Kathy (Ron) Sonju of Sunnyvale, Calif. She is also survived by three sons, John (Leni) Kunick, Miami, Fla., Doug (Peggy) Kunick, Eau Claire, and James (Ann) Kunick, River Forest, Ill. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Scott of Eau Claire, Eric (Joya) of Onalaska and Jeffrey (fiancee Terese Schlais). She has four step-grandchildren, Anton and Sterling Avilez and Kristi and Sherri Roberts. She also has three step-great-grandchildren. Thelma is also survived by her partner and dear friend of 14 years, Donald Clark and his numerous caring stepchildren. She had many dear friends who she loved and cherished including Theo Ludwig, Margaret Willner, Min Bauer and Karen Penning.

A special thanks to all of the wonderful staff at the Colonial Nursing Home and the medical staff at Marshfield Clinic and Saint Joseph's Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, any donations can be directed to the Zion Lutheran Missions project of the Lutheran Women's Mission League (LWML) or the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield (Attn.: Dr. Tomacz Okon).