Martin Kuntz

Martin Kuntz

Martin J. Kuntz, 77, of Portland, OR died Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, WA.

Martin John Kuntz was born July 28, 1932 in Pierce County, near Berwick, North Dakota, the fourth of eight children born to John & Theresa (Mattern) Kuntz. He attended school in Pierce County. He achieved his G.E.D. at Portland Community College. He served in the United States Army from 1957 until honorably discharged in 1963. He married Stella Kathryn Hoffarth on June 12, 1961 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond, ND. He and his wife farmed in Fulda, ND area until 1967, when they moved to Portland. He worked at Dillingham Ship Yards in Portland until retiring in 1990. He was a craftsman of many trades, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, but his true passion was farming. He volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul, his church, and enjoyed providing transportation for the Nuns. He was proud of his “Germans from Russia” heritage, his father being born in Elsass, Kutschurgan, Odessa, South Russia. Martin & Stella loved to dance the waltzes and polka’s, make German sausage, put puzzles together, play pinochle & canasta, and visit family and friends. Martin was a devout Catholic, devoted husband, father, grandfather & great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, friend, and a very special uncle to many nieces & nephews. He will be greatly missed, and truly remembered by all who shared in his life. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Stella, July 22, 2006 after 45 years of marriage.

He is survived by his two sons, Kenneth L. (Julie) Kuntz, Martin J. (Christine) Kuntz of Portland, OR; three daughters, Corine (Karl) Romeis of Puyallup, WA, Maureen (Carlos) Torres of Murrieta, CA, and Michelle (Joseph) Prats of Portland, OR; fourteen grandchildren, Heidi (Joe) Goodwin, Theresa Kuntz, Amanda Kuntz, Olivia Kuntz, Alyssa Romeis, Hannah Romeis, Matthew Torres, Kristen Torres, Mercedes Prats, Severiano (Chevy) Prats, Alana Kuntz, Adrein Kuntz, Elodee Sparks; three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Emily, and Patrick Goodwin; one sister, Bernice (James) Huber of Naples, FL; three brothers, Engelbert (Violet) Kuntz of Towner, ND, Daniel (Mardell) Kuntz, John Kuntz both of Rugby, ND; sisters-in-law, Mary Kuntz of Crary, ND, Gladys Kuntz of Berwick, ND, Anna Marie (Estagen) Zimmerman, Bernadine (Robert) Mittelbach, Rosa (Raymond) Hager, Nadine Appelt all of Portland, OR, Regina (Alton) Johnson of Fridley, MN, Sophia (Frederick) Buerkley of Kulm, ND, and Lawrence Appelt of Vancouver, WA.

Preceded in death by his wife Stella 2006, infant son 1966, father, John 1987, mother, Theresa 1985; brothers, Lawrence 1996, George 1997, Kasper 2001; father-in-law, Vincent P. Hoffarth 1970, mother-in-law, Anna Mary (Busch) Hoffarth 1969.

Pallbearers: Kenneth L. Kuntz, Martin J. Kuntz, Carlos Torres, Karl G. Romeis, Joseph D. Prats, Matthew C. Torres, Vincent F. Zimmerman, Doug Kuntz.

Mass of Christian burial was held Saturday, July 3, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Portland, OR, with the burial on Monday, July 5, 2010 in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, OR with Military Rites. Riverview Abbey Funeral Home, Portland, OR was in charge of arrangements.