Anna "Annie" Kunz

Birth: May 7, 1867, Switzerland

Death: May 23, 1944, Montpelier, Bear Lake County, Idaho, USA

Burial: Bern Bear Lake County Idaho, USA

Anna (Annie) Schmid Kunz was born on May 7, 1867 in Berg-am-Irchel, Zurich, Switzerland to Karl August Schmid and Anna Landert. She was named after her mother, Anna Landert Schmid. She was known during her life as "Annie". Annie at age 8 or 9 started working at a knitting factory. She had a serious accident where a needle on her machine broke and a metal splinter hit her eye. She had surgery on her eye by a surgeon which was generally successful, but her right eye was impaired for the rest of her life.

Annie Schmid was a convert to the LDS Church. She was baptized on October 4, 1880, at age 13 and confirmed a member of the LDS Church by Elder Ferdinant Oberhansli in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Annie Schmid got a loan arranged through the missionaries and came to the United States on August 18, 1883 at age 16 with her 11 year old Sister Mary Schmid. She and Mary moved to Paris, Idaho, on September 11, 1883. Annie worked for the John Norton family and and then the William Rich family in Paris, Idaho. She moved to the Dave Kunz family-milking cows, doing housework and tending children. Anna Schmid married William J. Kunz of Bern, Idaho on May 5, 1887, in the Logan LDS temple. Children of William J. Kunz and Anna (Annie) Schmid include:

Benjamin William Kunz, Born: 11 May 1888, Place: Bern, Bear Lake County, Idaho, Died: 18 Jun 1942, Place: Bern, Bear Lake County, Idaho, Buried: 21 Jun 1942, Place: Bern, Bear Lake County, Idaho

Mabel Mary Ann Kunz, Born: 23 Jan 1890, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 6 Oct 1969 Place: Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho

Sylvia Magdalena Kunz, Born: 16 Feb 1891, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 14 Dec 1989, Place: Montpelier, Bear River, Idaho, Buried: 16 Dec 1989 Place: Montpelier, Bear River, Idaho

Sophie Olive Kunz, Born: 7 Aug 1894, Place: Williamsburg, Caribou, Idaho, Died: 28 Nov 1969 Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, Buried: 2 Dec 1969, Place: Midvale City Cemetery, Midvale, Salt Lake Co., Utah

Anna Elizabeth Kunz, Born: 25 Jul 1896, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Christened: 23 Aug 1896, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 20 Nov 1985

Myrtle Kunz, Born: 15 May 1899, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 30 Dec 1981

Willard Robert Kunz, Born: 7 Aug 1901, Place: Williamsberg, Caribou, Idaho, Died: 1 Nov 1982, Place: Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho

Ivy Kunz, Born: 1904, Died: 2000

Joseph John Kunz, Born: 6 Dec 1906, Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 22 July 1950, Place: Randolph, Rich, Utah, Buried: 26 July 1950, Place: Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho

Karl August Kunz, Born: 7 July 1909 Place: Bern, Bear Lake, Idaho, Died: 7 July 1909

Leslie Amasa Kunz (male), Born: 25 Jun 1910 Place: Williamsberg, Caribou, Idaho, Died: 25 Oct 1981, Place: Pocatello, Idaho

Anna Schmid Vigos lived with Anna and William J. for some time after her mother Conra Shumway Schmid died in a tragic car accident.

Annie served for 15 years from December 9, 1917, to July 16, 1929 and from October 1930 to July 16, 1933 as a counselor to Emma C. Kunz in the Bern Ward Relief Society presidency. She visited the sick and the needy. She helped in their homes, did laundry and mended their clothes. Annie was an excellent homemaker, dressmaker and cook. She spun the yarn and knitted it into socks and mittens not only for her family, but many others enjoyed the benefit of her labors. Annie repaid the missionaries who funded her emigration to the United States.

Anna and William J. lived in Bern since their marriage. William and Annie retired to their home in Bern in 1933. Her life was devoted to her family and her church.

Anna (Annie) Schmid Kunz died at age 77 on May 23, 1944 at Montpelier, Bear Lake County, Idaho of causes incident to age. Funeral services were conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Bern LDS ward. Orland N. Kunz, bishop officiated. Annie Schmid Kunz was buried at the Bern Cemetery, Bear Lake County, Idaho. "She fed the hungry, clothed the naked, was a mother to the motherless. Her bread basket was never empty." "She truly loved and served her Father in Heaven and her fellow men".

Selections: Courtesy of Dianne Steckler Rasi-Koskinen from The Comfort of being together in Pease & Plenty, the William J. & Annie Schmid Kunz Family Story.

Created by: Bruce J. Black

Record added: Dec 22, 2005

Find A Grave Memorial# 12764277