John V. Kuntz, 91, South Heart, died on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Sanford Health, Bismarck. John’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 a.m., Monday, November 19, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, South Heart with Fr. William Ruelle as the celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by Dickinson American Legion Post 3 Honor Guard. Visitation will be Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a rosary and vigil at 3 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
John V. Kuntz was born June 23, 1927 on a farm south of South Heart. He was one of seven children born to Valentine and Mary (Dolecheck) Kuntz. He was raised on the family farm. He attended Hilltop School until the eighth grade.
John went into the U.S. Marine Corps. From January 22, 1952 to February 1, 1954. During which he became an Air Craft Mechanist and Buck Sergeant. He met Bertha Pachl and they were married June 11, 1957 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson. John and Bertha have been married for 61 years. They moved to South Heart in 1962 and he worked at the Farmers Elevator for two years. He then went to work for Stark County for 25 years, retiring in 1993.
He was a member at St. Pius Verein, St. Anthony’s Club, Knights of Columbus and the Veterans Drill Team. He enjoyed dancing, fishing, wood working, playing cards, playing bingo, playing banjo, playing horseshoes and helping in the Ag. class room at South Heart School. His greatest joy was spending time with his wife, family and friends.
John is survived by his wife, Bertha, Bismarck; siblings, Dorothy Dukart, Rochester, Minn., Magdaline Pachl, Springfield, Ore., August (Florence) Kuntz, New England and Peter Kuntz, South Heart; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Valentine in 1968 and Mary in 1998; two sisters, Otilla and Darlene; and one brother, Arnold Kuntz. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the South Heart Senior Citizen Center.
