John Roger Kunz

John Roger Kunz was born 20 Sep 1931 in Bern, Idaho and returned to his Heavenly Father on 15 Apr 2025. He was born to noble parents Heber and Marie (Clark) Kunz in a 2-room log house and grew up in that home which was full of love and the gospel. He grew up working hard on the farm.

His parents encouraged education as well. While attending Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, the missionary age was temporarily lowered to 19 so he was suddenly eligible. In Jan 1951, he began serving in the Western Canada mission. This was very foundational to his life. After returning from his mission, he began courting the girl who he had met the day after he received his mission call. Then on 17 Sep 1954, he married Carolyn Deon Jones in the Logan Temple - and their courtship continued (including holding hands on their almost daily Davis Boulevard walks until his final illness).

He finished his degree and graduated in 1956 (on the same day as his wife) with a degree in Welding Engineering. (The next year, USAC became Utah State University.) He moved to the Salt Lake 17th Ward and began his career with Utah Power and Light Company right after that. After a few months, he fulfilled his ROTC duty serving as Lieutenant Kunz in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. After his full-time stint, he spent several years in the Army Reserve while continuing his Engineering career at UP&L. He became a professional Civil Engineer and served as the Professional Engineer for UP&L (being certified in all states they served.) He became a supervisor there in 1966 and retired as Chief Engineer of the company when an early retirement became available in 1987 which he took.

Not too long after his return from the army to the Salt Lake Seventeenth ward, he was called into the bishopric (the other counselor was his Uncle Vernon Clark) and served as a counselor to Bishop Val Sheffield until his release. There were over 300 widows in the Ward, and he served them well. For many, he conducted funerals. He was comfortable conducting funerals where the main speaker was an Apostle as he did it many times. During this time, they built a new chapel. In those days, he used his hammer as much as his checkbook to do so.

All his children were born during his time in Salt Lake City. June, 1967, saw his move to Bountiful, Utah into the home where he would live for the rest of his life. Paying off that home was his second highest financial goal (after paying his tithes and offerings) and he taught his children great financial lessons in so doing.

Among his callings in the 25th Ward were Executive Secretary, High Priests' Group Leader, 11-year-old Scout Leader and Ward Missionary. He confirmed all his children and conferred the Priesthood on his sons. He even got to perform the Temple marriage and sealing of 1 child as well as many grandchildren. He also did much to help the youth learn about Genealogy work. He took many trips with them to the then Genealogy Library (now Family History Library) in Salt Lake. Ice cream was part of those trips. It was also a reward for Scouts as they earned Merit Badges. He was never an official scout leader but went on many Scout Camps and was advancement committee chair for the Troop. He was so pleased that all his sons and grandsons earned their Eagle Rank and treasured a photo of all of them surrounding him.

In the mid-1980's, after his mother's death, he and his family built a cabin in Bern, Idaho on land his father had homesteaded. Many days and nights were spent in that cabin, mainly with Carolyn, but often with other family.

He began his service as a Temple Ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple in 1985. With his early retirement from Utah Power & Light in 1987, the stage was set for the senior (although at age 56, he was a young "senior") missions’ phase of his life. Together with Carolyn, he served in the Sydney Australia Temple (where he was made a sealer), the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and the Manila Philippines Temple. After 4 full-time foreign missions, they served in the Family History Library for their last mission. Between each mission and after, they resumed being Temple Ordinance Workers in the Salt Lake Temple. For several years, he was able to serve simultaneously in 2 temples - as an Ordinance Worker (who loved doing all the roles except one) in Salt Lake and as a sealer in Bountiful. In 2005, they were released from the Salt Lake Temple and served in the Bountiful Temple until last month (March). He loved to share the gospel and to help people. His sons learned to serve by serving at his side. Even after his retirement (before the first mission), he used his farming skills to serve weekly at the Stake farm - which proves he didn't serve just to teach his kids to serve.

Although painfully shy as a lad, no trace of shyness has prevented him from sharing truth and encouraging people from all walks of life. He especially desired to help youth - asking hundreds of young men, "How long until your mission?" and hundreds of young women, "What Temple are you planning to be married in?" He also put his money where his mouth was as he gave contributions to young men and women for their missionary funds, explaining to them that adding to their funds is a way to show their faith and to let the Lord know that they are really serious about serving. He always took care of his wife. He loved to serve side by side with her. They will continue to serve together in the Spirit World.

He is survived by his children Burton (Lisa) Kunz, Ronald (Nancy) Kunz, Vernon (Kellie) Kunz and Elaine (Lee) Nelson; grandchildren Ashley (Greg) Sorenson, Burton John Kunz, Jr, Sarah (Daniel) McCormick, Bradley Kunz, Bryce (Annie) Kunz, Jeremy (Aina) Nelson, Sarah (Tyler) Winiecke, Taylor Kunz, Camilla Nelson, Alex John Kunz, Michael John Nelson, James (Kannon) Kunz and Adrianna Kunz as well as 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his stillborn son Darrell, first grandchild Brett Kunz, grandson John McKay Kunz, his parents and brothers McKay, Leland, Lyman, Thiel and Charles.

There will be a visitation Sunday, 27 April 2025 from 6-8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary 727 North 400 East in Bountiful. Funeral Services will be in the Bountiful 25th Ward Building (where he spent so many hours serving) on 28 April 2025 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and burial will be in the Bountiful City Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com