Henry Kunkler

Henry Kunkler, age 93, of Burkettsville, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Monday morning, Feb. 26, 2024.

He was born Oct. 15, 1930, in Carthagena, Ohio, to the late Henry and Theresia (Homan) Kunkler. On Jan. 16, 1965, he married Ruth (May) Schoen. Ruth survives at their home in Burkettsville. 

Henry is also survived by his nine children, Beverly (Schoen) and Greg Westgerdes of Portland, Indiana, Wanda (Schoen) and Craig Dembeck of Brighton, Michigan, Theresa and Ronald Stammen of Marysville, Ohio, Laurie and Timothy Hein of Portland, Nicholas Kunkler and fiancée Della Rockwell of Bryant, Indiana, Brian and Rebecca Kunkler of Portland, Henry and Rebecca Kunkler of Celina, Ohio, Timothy and Dianna Kunkler of Fort Recovery, and Catherine and Robert Monchamp of Novi, Michigan. Also surviving Henry are his 46 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; sister, Virginia Heitkamp; and in-laws, Howard May, Walter and Irene May, Judy Homan, Charlene May and LouAnn May; as well as special extended family, Harry and Barb Schoen, Jerry and Barb Schoen, and Judy Sudhoff. 

He was preceded in death by infant grandchildren, Lee Ann Stammen and Gabriel Kunkler; infant great-grandchildren, Christopher Lehe II and Gabriel Muhlenkamp; as well as siblings and in-laws Ted and Martha Kunkler, Rosemary Olson, Robert and Dorothy Schott, Fritz and Evelyn Kunkler, Ralph Kunkler, Stella and Herb Siefring, Donald and JoAnn Kunkler, Florian Heitkamp, Rita and Jerry Pottkotter, Bud and Rosie May, Jeanette and Ernie Homan, infant Delores May, Ralph and Marilyn May, Donna May, Victor May, Jerome May and Thomas May.

Henry was a loving husband and father and was a lifelong farmer. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Burkettsville, and he was on the Diocesan Mission Committee. He was a member of The Heritage Club in St. Henry, and the Mercer County Right to Life, by which Henry and Ruth were honored with the Friend of Life Award in 2016. After his retirement, Henry volunteered much of his time to the St. Bernard Catholic Church where he was a sacristan and a mass server. Henry was also a volunteer at the Center for Neurological Development in Burkettsville for many years. He enjoyed gardening and taking care of his fruit orchard.   

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, at St. Bernard Church in Burkettsville. Following the funeral mass, burial will take place in St. Bernard Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28, and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Neurological Development in Burkettsville, the Mercer County Right to Life or EverHeart Hospice.

Condolences for the family may be expressed in person or left at hogenkampfh.com.