William J. Kunz

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Birth: Mar. 14, 1865, Niederstocken, Bern, Switzerland

Death: Mar. 15, 1952, Montpelier, Bear Lake County, Idaho, USA

Burial: Bern, Bear Lake County, Idaho, USA

ID: 55923; Last Name: Kunz; First Name: William John

Father: John Kunz III, Mother: Magdalena Straubhaar, Spouse: Anna Schmid, Sources: Cemetery Records.

William J. Kunz was born on March 14, 1865 at Niederstocken, Bern Canton, Switzerland to John Kunz III and Magdalena Straubhaar. In the Spring of 1866 the Family moved to the lower Blatten farm at Zwischenfluh. He was baptized in the Grundbach stream on June 4, 1873, by his Father and was confirmed by Henry Reiser a missionary. In July 1873, William J.Kunz and his parents from Basil, Switzerland sailed the Rhine River to Rotterdam, Holland. They boarded a boat to Liverpool, England. They embarked from Liverpool on the Steamship Nevada July 12, 1873, for an 11 day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. They landed in New York in July 23, 1873. They took a train from New York to Ogden, Utah. They arrived in Utah at approximately July 23rd. They arrived in Logan at the home of Aunt Rosie K. Morrell. He and his parents came to the United States when he was eight years old as converts to the LDS Church. Wiliam J. Kunz married Anna Schmid in the Logan Temple on May 5, 1887. Children of William J. Kunz and Anna Schmid include;

Benjamin William Kunz

Mabel Maryanne Kunz Thomas

Sylvia Magdalena Kunz Kunz

Sophie Olive Kunz Bateman

Anna Elizabeth Kunz Eschler

Myrtle Kunz Stecklerk

Willard Robert Kunz

Ivy Kunz Jensen

Joseph John Kunz

Leslie Amasa Kunz

Karl August Kunz

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

William J. Kunz was a member of the first Sunday School superintendency of the Bern Ward and at the time of his death was a high priest in the Montpelier Stake. He was a member of the Montpelier Fourth Ward for the past seven years. A rancher and dairyman most of his life his life, he had operated a dairy at Williamsburg, Idaho, for many years. William J. had a severe back injury while riding a horse where his foot got caught in the stirrup and he was drug across the ground. He had a special hoist above his bed so he could sit up. After his injury William J. directed much of the work on the dairy. William J. was a self taught man. He was excellent with animals and practiced homeopathic medicine. He was friends to the Native Americans in the area and would always give them cheese. He had a keen interest in music and instilled this love and talent for music in his children and grandchildren. He was resident of Bear Lake Valley for 79 years. William J. and Anna retired to there home in Bern in 1933. On May 13, 1937 William J. and Anna celebrated there 50th Wedding Anniversary. His wife Anna Schmid died at age 77 on May 23, 1944. William J. Kunz died 1 day past his 87th birthday on March 15, 1952. William J. Kunz was buried in the Bern Cemetery, Bear Lake County, Idaho.

Information courtesy of Diane Steckler Rasi-Koskinen in the The Comfort of being together in Pease & Plenty, The William J. & Annie Schmid Kunz Family Story.

Parents:

John Kunz (1844 - 1918)

Magdalena Straubhaar Kunz (1837 - 1874)

Spouse:

Anna Schmid Kunz (1867 - 1944)

Children:

Benjamin William Kunz (1888 - 1942)

Mabel Maryann Kunz Thomas (1890 - 1969)

Sylvia Magdalena Kunz Kunz (1892 - 1989)

Sophie Olive Kunz Bateman (1894 - 1969)

Anna Elizabeth Kunz Eschler (1896 - 1985)

Myrtle Kunz Steckler (1899 - 1981)

Willard Robert Kunz (1901 - 1982)

Ivy Kunz Jensen (1904 - 2000)

Joseph John Kunz (1906 - 1950)

Karl August Kunz (1909 - 1909)

Leslie Amasa Kunz (1910 - 1981)

Created by: Bruce J. Black

Record added: Dec 22, 2005

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