Funeral services for 88-year-old Darlene Selma Kunkel, a lifetime resident of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday morning, January 30, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake. The church is located at 1418 2nd Avenue.
Interment will be in Mountain Lake Cemetery, located on 10th Street North at Midway Road.
Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home-Mountain Lake Chapel, on Sunday, January 29, 2017, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The funeral home is located at 420 10th Street North. A second visitation will be held at the church the day of the funeral service from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to: sturmfh.com.
Sturm Funeral Home-Mountain Lake Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Darlene Selma Kunkel passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village.
Darlene Selma (Johnson) Kunkel was born on April 8, 1928, the daughter of Albert and Linnea Johnson on the family farm in rural Odin, Minnesota. Darlene married August Kunkel on June 14, 1946.
Darlene was known as a great rock of strength to her family. She and her husband August celebrated 56 years of marriage before his passing in February 2001. Darlene was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. Along with raising their seven surviving children, she and August had numerous foster children of all abilities. She is known for always being ready to lend a hand; no one around her ever went hungry. Her homemade buns and ham sandwiches are legendary throughout her family, and the smile that came with them will forever be missed. Her daughters-in-law are still trying to replicate her potato salad.
During her lifetime, Darlene had several businesses, including her favorite pastime, a craft shop in Mountain Lake. If Darlene was sitting in her chair, she had yarn and a crochet hook in hand! Many hours were spent getting ready for craft shows, making dolls, doll clothes and afghans for her grandchildren.
Family was very important to Darlene. One of her greatest joys was time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved getting pictures of them all, and she loved talking about them even more. Her church was a great comfort to her. Her faith was deep, and a good example to the rest of us.
Darlene is survived by her children, LaVonne Van Zee of Willmar, Minnesota Russell (Nance) Kunkel of Blackduck, Minnesota, Sharon (Craig) Lipinski of Proctor, Minnesota, Rebecca Kunkel of Mountain Lake and Ron Kunkel of Windom, Minnesota; daughter-in-law, Judy Kunkel of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota; siblings, Leland Johnson, Ardella (David) Nelson and Lester (Judy) Johnson; sisters-in-law, Kathy Johnson, Lenora Kunkel, Hertha Holland, Augusta Heintzelman, Doris Kunkel and Laura Blanshan; 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, August Kunkel; sons, Robert, Randy, Ricky and Allen Kunkel; her parents; brothers, Verne and George Johnson and sister, Lorraine Sandberg.