Darlene Joy Kunze

Darlene Joy Kunze, 78, of St. Paul, started her journey to spend Christmas in Heaven on Thursday, December 23, 2021.  She passed away peacefully at Brookefield Park Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility in St. Paul.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral in St. Paul.  Interment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer, Nebraska.  The family is requesting casual dress attire for the service

Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rose Hill Cemetery, the St. Paul American Legion Building Fund, or the Donor’s Choice. 

Darlene was born on April 30, 1943 to Harold and Vera (Schmidt) Becker in Redfield, South Dakota.  She grew up in Redfield and graduated from Redfield High School in 1961.  She was united in marriage to Kenneth Kunze in 1996 in Reno, Nevada.  They moved from Oregon to Nebraska on October 31, 2000 and made their home outside of St. Paul. 

Darlene had various jobs waitressing and bartending, which allowed her to do what she enjoyed most in life, and that was “serving people.”  She worked at the Skyline Café and the St. Paul American Legion Club.  Darlene loved the outdoors and enjoyed watching the grandchildren play outside and ride the ATV’s.  Darlene and Ken also enjoyed going on fishing trips. 

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Kenneth “Ken” Kunze of St. Paul; step-sons and step-daughter-in-law, Kenneth “Ken” Kunze, Jr. of St. Paul, Rodney and Kathy Kunze of Greensburg, Indiana; step-grandchildren and their spouses, Lena and Aaron Nielsen of St. Paul, Allison Kunze of Greensburg, IN, Alicia and Travis Buck of Greensburg, IN, Zachary and Alana Kunze of Parkville, MO and Aaron Bell of Greensburg, IN; step-great-grandchildren, Christopher Nielsen of St. Paul and Allee Mae Nielsen of St. Paul; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gary and Karen Kunze of Vista, CA, Marvin and Sandra Kunze of Lincoln, NE, Bev Kunze of Owasso, Oklahoma, Sharon and Dave White of Doniphan, Carolyn Kunze of Grand Island, Danny and Sue Kunze of Grand Island, Lori Kunze of Grand Island; and double cousin, Judy Baldwin of Sturgis, SD; numerous nieces and nephews.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Vera Becker; brothers and sister-in-law, Darwin and Pat Becker, Duane Becker; brothers-in-law, Donald Kunze, Jim Kunze, and Dale Kunze; and sister-in-law, Diane Klinginsmith.

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