William Frederick Kunkel
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[William Frederick (Bill) Kunkel, 78, of Du Quoin, passed away at Noon Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 at the Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin.
William was born Dec, 24, 1931 in Du Quoin, the youngest child of Phillip Frederick and Anna Louise (Telkemeyer) Kunkel. Paternal grandparents were Frederick and Emma A. (Lederer) Kunkel; maternal grandparents were Christian Fredrich and Karolina Wilhelmine (Kutemann) Telkemeyer.
William's great grandfather Conrad H. Kunkel was a founding member of St. Johannas Evangelical Church now St. Johns United Church of Christ, renamed after World War I due to German Ancestry speaking people of the church. William's confirmation with the Church was March 25, 1945.
On July 12, 1958 in Du Quoin at St. Johns United Church of Christ, William was united in marriage to Shirley Jean (Kellerman) Haggard who preceded him in death on Jan, 17, 2003. Upon this marriage their family was established with a daughter, Lyla Jean (Haggard) Kozuszek, from Shirley's previous marriage. Lyla was united in marriage to Bernard Kozuszek and they survive in Pinckneyville.
On Sept. 20, 1972 Bill and Shirley were blessed with a daughter, Shelly Lynn (Kunkel) Huggins. Shelly was united in marriage to Steven Michael Huggins June 6, 1992, also at St. Johns United Church of Christ and they survive in Herrin.
Like most young boys in Perry County, Bill grew up on the family farm east of Du Quoin and was a farmer until after his marriage to Shirley. After Bill and Shirley moved to town, 208 S. Line St. Du Quoin, Bill became interested in truck driving and continued this occupation until his retirement in 1995.
Bill is survived by two daughters Lyla (Bernard) Kozuszek of Pinckneyville and Shelly (Steve) Huggins of Herrin. Four grandsons- William and Greyson Huggins, Phillip and Brian Kozuszek, two granddaughters- Taylor Huggins and Stefanie Kozuszek, two great grandsons, two sisters- Emma Arlene (Kunkel) Foster of Du Quoin, Betty Caroline (Kunkel) Schumaier of Pinckneyville, one brother- Conrad Godfrey Kunkel of Tamaroa, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, wife, Shirley of 44 years, one sister- Minnie Louise (Kunkel) Norris, one brother-in-law- George A. Foster Sr., one sister-in-law- Mildred (Galloway) Kunkel, one unnamed sibling in 1926, and one grandson, Patrick Kozuszek.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Rich Luh officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the St. Johns United Church of Christ or the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.