Obituary of Delbert R Kuntz

Delbert R. Kuntz, 95, passed away on November 9, 2023 at Indianhead Estates.  He was born on March 23, 1928 at home, four miles north of Weiser, Idaho on Monroe Creek to Albert S. Kuntz and Ada Smith Kuntz.   He graduated from Weiser High School in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1945. 

His army assignment was to the University of Utah under the ASTRP Program which was discontinued at the end of the school year in June 1946.  He was then assigned to basic training at Fort McClelland, Alabama and on the 1st Cav Division, 8th Battalion in Tokyo, Japan.  He was honorably discharged in June 1947. 

He was employed at Pacific Farmers Coop in Weiser until his appointment to Weiser Postal Service on December 1, 1948.  He was appointed Assistant Postmaster in 1953 and served as an employee and Supervisor in the Postal Service for 37 years, retiring on November 29, 1985.  In 1960 he was elected to the State President of the National association of Postal Supervisors and later became State Secretary of that Association. 

He married Marily Judd on May 31, 1951.  From this Union were born two sons, Philip and Bret.  They were later divorced. 

He married Clara McMullen Baker on May 24, 1964.  They had a daughter and 4 stepchildren from former marriages. 

Delbert was very interested in sports and played as a catcher on league-winning Farmers Coop and Weiser Elk softball teams.  He also played on city league basketball teams. 

With friends, Otto Rast and Bill Betts, Delbert backpacked into the primitive, Bighorn, White Cloud and Salmon River Tim for eleven years for a week of fishing each summer. 

On December 6, 1949, Delbert was initiated into Weiser Lodge #23 A.F. & A.M. of Weiser Masonic Lodge and has been a continuous member for over 60 years.  On January 12, 1952, Delbert was initiated into Weiser Lodge 1683 of the Benevolent Order of Elks and has been a continuous member for over 60 years. He was elected Exalted Ruler of Weiser Lodge 1683 for Lodge years 1959-60 and again in 1963-64. 

After Delbert’s retirement from the U.S. Postal Service in 1985, he and wife Clara spent 7 winters in Yuma, Arizona and McAllen, Texas, traveling in their RV.  They were very active in square and round dancing, both while traveling and upon their return home to Weiser. 

Delbert as preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Ada Kuntz, daughter Monica (Brad) Royse, brother Kenneth Kuntz, sister Evelyn (Lyle) Webb, sister Emma (Boles) Cockerum, sister Eleanor (Charles) Hunnel.  He leaves son Philip Kuntz, son Bret (Kerri) Kuntz, stepson Jerry Baker, stepdaughter Wanda (Jim) Goins, grandson Dustin Royse and granddaughter Reanna Royse. Also, five step-grandsons, Jerry, Gary, Michael, David Baker and Clinton Goins, two step granddaughters Tina Benson and Teresa Baker. 

A graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weiser, on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 1 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Thomason Funeral Home. 

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