Pauline Kunkel

Pauline Mae Kunkel of Urbana, IL, died peacefully and surrounded by family Saturday morning, May 5, 2018, at C-U Regional Rehab in Savoy, IL. Pauline was born as the only child of Paul and Nettie Mae Rinehart on January 22, 1929, at Pine Bluffs, WY. Because of the severe winter weather, the famous early southeastern Wyoming Dr. Morris opened his home for several days earlier to avoid the dangerous travel from the family ranch some thirty miles to the north. Grades one through eight were completed at the rural two-room White Crest School. Since the distance for high school from that location was too great, the family relocated to another ranch west of the Golden Prairie Church, north of Burns, WY, and Pauline completed her high school years at Burns, graduating in l947 with a remarkably talented class of only five. Pauline attended Northwest Nazarene College (now University) at Nampa, ID, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, with two full majors in English and philosophy. On September 2, 1951, she married college classmate, Paul E. Kunkel, of Jamestown, ND, at the Albin, Baptist Church in Albin, WY. Primarily as a wife, mother, and homemaker, Pauline taught briefly both French and German classes. After moving to Urbana in 1971, she was active with the faculty wives group and volunteered with them in early support activities at Parkland College. Pauline has been a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Urbana since 1972, and in earlier years was an active member of the church choir. She has been a consistent supporter of her husband Paul's long time participation with the Champaign Lions Club. Her strong interests had always been music, books and reading, and antique collecting. She cared greatly about animals, especially dogs, and she had a hobby of collecting dog and rabbit figurines. A very close-knit family of survivors remains, including husband Paul Kunkel of Urbana; three children: son, David (and wife Donna) of Colorado Springs, CO, son, Geren of Meridian, ID, and daughter, Sharon King (and husband Richard) of Savoy, IL; three grandchildren: Jennifer (King) Ray (and husband Doug) of Richmond, VA, Elizabeth (King) Mitchaner (and husband Michael) of Urbana, and Benjamin King of Clark, CO; and two great grandchildren, Adelae Rose and Theo Aaron Mitchaner Family and friends will gather on Saturday, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. for burial at the Pine Bluffs Cemetery. Local arrangements are under the care of Schrader, Aragon & Jacoby Funeral Home of Cheyenne.

Service

Saturday, June 2, 2018 1:30pm

Pine Bluffs Cemetery

Pine Bluffs Cemetery

PINE BLUFFS, WY 82082