REV. RAYMOND KUNKEL

The Rev. Raymond W. Kunkel, 65, died July 17, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born July 4, 1934, at Verona, son of the late Albert Adrain and Juliana Oldelehr Kunkel, he was baptized July 6, 1934, at Sacred Heart Parish in Verona and received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy in 1956 at Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo. He was ordained into the priesthood on April 2, 1960, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Verona, Mo., by the Most Rev. Charles H. Helmsing. Four apostolates in which he worked were Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, TEC and marriage preparation.

His church assignments began with St. Peter's Parish in Joplin from April 1960 to October 1962, followed by St. Mary's Parish in Cape Girardeau from October 1962 until June 1965; St. Catherine Parish in Piedmont, St. George Parish in Van Buren and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Williamsville from June 1965 to August 1967; St. Mary's Parish in West Plains and Sacred Heart Parish in Thayer from August 1967 to August 1972; St. Denis Parish in Benton from August 1972 to September 1975; St. Ambrose Parish in Chaffee from September 1975 to August 1986; St. Teresa Parish in Glennonville and St. Ann Parish in Malden from August 1986 to August 1989; St. Henry Parish in Charleston from August 1989 to August 1992; and St. Mary Parish in Joplin from August 1992 to July 1, 1999.

Aside from his work within the church, he loved to raise Jersey cattle which he showed at various fairs for many years. He was a member of the Missouri Jersey Cattle Club and American Jersey Cattle Association.

Survivors include: two brothers, J.B. Kunkel of Delaware, Okla., and Edward Kunkel of Springfield; one sister, Delores Woods of Tulsa, Okla.; and five nieces and one nephew.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Wednesday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee, where parish prayers are scheduled for 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 1999, at the church with the Most Rev. John J. Leibrecht, bishop of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese, as celebrant.

Burial will follow in the St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel of Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

The family of Rev. Raymond W. Kunkel requests memorials go to The Catholic Church School Foundation Fund of their choice.