Donald L Kunz was born in Omaha NE, 11 September 1927; the family home, where he spent his first 10 years, with his younger sister, Shirley (Kunz ) Campbell and parents Albert and Irene (Crane) Kunz, was in nearby Council Bluff, IO. He died peacefully 19 July 2010, at home, after a prolonged and unusual illness, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

In 1937, when Don was ten, the family moved to Idaho, settling first in Caldwell, then moving to Emmett, ID, where Don completed High School, in 1945. As WWII was still active, Don was shortly drafted into the Army 's Air Corps unit. He spent his first few years of military service in Texas, moving from various Army training sites, then to an assignment in Administration and Personnel management, still in Texas. Following the changeover from Army to the US AForce, he put on the new, blue, Air Force, uniform and was transferred to Alaska. This was notable as he was one of the first Air Force uniforms that anyone had seen in his travels. He was even mistaken for a bus driver. In 1952 he was assigned to the Air Force survival school in McCall, ID.

During this assignment, he met and married a local McCall girl, Betty (Nettie) Zimmerman. Their first child, Kimberly Marie, was born in 1953. Then the school closed in early 1953, Don was transferred. He packed up his family, and moved to Great Falls, Montana. In January 1954, his unit was transferred to Molesworth AFB in England. In May 1954, his wife Nettie, and daughter Kimberly (1 year) joined him in England. While in England, their second child, Kevin Mark, was born in 1956. In January 1957, the family returned to the US, and Don and family moved to Warner Robins AFB, Georgia. Their third child, Kelly May, was born in 1957.

In July 1958, Donald was sent to the Rikyuan Islands in Japan, and the family joined him at Naha AFB in Okinawa in July 1959. The family weathered two memorable typhoons while living on Okinawa Island. In August 1962 they returned to the US and eventually transferred to Boron AF Station in April 1965, where he would then retire in November of 1966. He went to work at the US Borax open pit mine in Boron. In November of 1974, a Teamsters Union strike at US Borax resulted in the burning of Don's office, personal vehicle, and a huge warehouse of antique mining relics. This pushed the family to relocate to Lancaster, CA in May of 1975 where he continued to work for US Borax until 1977 when he entered into the Real Estate world.

Don worked for Century 21 Real Estate as a Realtor in 1978 and then as a Manager for Doug Anderson Century 21 offices. In 1980, Don began playing Santa Claus after having filled in for a preschool director. From there, Don visited various local businesses in Lancaster, CA, he was the Santa in the city's parades, and donated the proceeds from his services to the Grace Resource Center (a local group which provided services to the city's homeless population). Don retired in 1994 and moved back to Idaho to assist in the care of his Mother (Irene Kunz), where he continued to play Santa for the enjoyment of local children and businesses. Don enjoyed this process so much that, as Christmas time neared, he would wear a red coat which was filled with candy canes to distribute to any children he met along the way. This was his little way of spreading Christmas joy to the world. During his retirement years, after moving back to Idaho, he enjoyed playing Cribbage and was a founding member of the local Peggers Cribbage

Don is survived by his Wife of 57 years, Betty (Nettie) Kunz of Boise, ID. His Daughter Kimberly La Rue (Craig) of Meridian, ID. His Son, Kevin Kunz (Beckie), of Grand Junction, CO. His Daughter, Kelly Jordan (Glenn), of Lancaster, CA. Sister, Shirley Campbell (Bill), of Boise, ID. He is also survived by 8 Grandchildren: Jeanna Gress (Jeremy) of Nampa, ID; Chris Jordan (Sommer) of Palmdale, CA; SSgt. Joshua Fairchild (Brooke) of Yelm, WA; Zachary Jordan of Lancaster, CA; Kellen Kunz of Ouray, CO; Britt Kunz of Grand Junction, CA; Aimee Jensen (Spencer) of Grand Junction, CO; Taylor Jordan (Mack) of Lancaster, CA. He is also survived by 6 Great-Grandchildren: Brooklyn Jordan; Jack Fairchild; Trent Jordan; Jaren Gress; Justin Gress; Kade Jordan; and 2 more greatly anticipated bundles on the way. Cremation services will be provided by Cloverdale Funeral home and Don's ashes will be rested in the Veteran's Cemetery memorial wall.

Services at 10:00 a.m. on July 23, 2010, at the Idaho State Veteran's Cemetery, with SSgt Joshua Fairchild officiating. To share memories with the family, please visit Donald's memorial webpage

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