Wrangell Sentinel -

Joseph W. Kuntz "Joe", "Joe Cool," passed away November 25, 2014 in Wrangell, where he lived for 70 years.

He was born to Joe and Sarah Kuntz in Fromberg, Mont. on November 18, 1941. He attended school here, and a couple years "down south" as he used to say.

With the sea always calling his name and hunting always his game, it wasn't until 1969 that he bought his first commercial boat, a 28 footer named "Cari K" after his daughter. Prior to that he worked as an offbearer at the 6 mile mill (Wrangell Milal), tugged for Campbell Tow, longshored, but the sea always called him back. This began when he rowed a boat to catch fish, and commercial fished on seine boats.

In the mid-70s he bought the "Marianne", a 36 foot troller and that was the start of living. In 1982 he bought the troller and long-liner "Sophia," the ultimate boat for Joe. Those two wood boats kept him busy, as he kept them sharp and beautiful.

In Joe's young adult years he lived life fully. He worked hard, drank hard, played hard, maybe not as hard as some, but harder than others.

Joe loved sports and he attended games after his own children were no longer in school, up until age 72 he would watch. He was an inspiration even to Cari to be sports-minded.

In 1986, Joe bought the family home as a gift. In 1992 when the kitchen was redone, he was adamant, "No dishwasher!" He said he would be the dishwasher and he always was until getting ill.

Hunting deer and moose was spent for years and years from the Kobuk to here in Southeast. He liked showing the "young" hunters how to hunt as well.

A wonderful thing that happened in 1999, Joe started attending Harbor Light Church. He was a man who sought to learn more about God. His heart, till the end, was for every single person he knew, and those who he loved closely would have a passion to know Jesus. He would say, "Hey, why not? What could it hurt?"

He was preceded in death by Mom, Dad, his sisters Doris Kimble and Ginny Kuntz and niece Amy Gladsjo.

Joe is survived by: his wife Donna; son Lester Kuntz; daughters Carilee (Ken) Hazelton and Debbie Mathews; brothers Ed Kuntz and Robert Kuntz; sisters Dorothy (Karl) Gladsjo and Willa Franks: granddaughters Carmen (Mathew) Chaney, Dawn Davidson, Kendra Hazelton and Kelsey Erickson: grandson Robert Davidson: sisters-in-law Arlene (Les) Woodward, Alice Bjorge and Maxine Silcott and brother-in-law M. Bucky (Linda) Bjorge.