Marlin L Kunze

Marlin L. Kunze, 74, passed from this life May 9, 2016, with his wife of 52 years at his side and with the thoughts and prayers of many friends and relatives surrounding them. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service and sharing of memories (so please bring yours) will be held at 3:30 pm Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, with Rev. Gary Heaton officiating. Marlin Leon Kunze was born December 19, 1941, on the family farm west of Regent, ND, to his father, Carl H. Kunze and mother, Esther (Hoffer) Kunze. His father said the weather was so warm he took Marlin outside in his shirtsleeves to show him the world. He was raised on the same farm and attended school in Regent until 1959. He worked for several farmers, part-time at the local co-op store and the cream station. He started working at the local Cenex station in 1962. In 1963 he said he met the best friend of his life. He married Roberta Kay Harpster on July 25, 1964. On July 4, 1967, a bad car accident forced a huge change in their life plans. This included a move to Bismarck. He studied and got his GED then attended Capitol Commercial College and BSC. In 1971 he took a 30-day position with the ND state tax department. He retired from the tax department as a withholding tax specialist after 34 years. He started working part-time at sporting goods stores in 1970 and worked for Kirkwood Sportsman, Scheels Arrowhead, Scheels Kirkwood and finished at Gun City in January 2015. In those positions he made many friends and gained a vast knowledge of firearms. He had a great love for the outdoors, Native American history, amateur archeology, wildlife, and a passion for firearms. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Club, NRA, and a member of BMRP, NDAAA, and volunteered at the ND Heritage Center in the archeology lab. He was a member of the Custer’s Memorial 7th Cavalry and had wonderful memories of the historical recreation of historical events. The move to Bismarck changed his life dramatically in the arrival of a daughter, Cynthia Ann. The joy of his life and the cause of many of those silver hairs on his head. She also brought the gift of two grandsons, Isaac and Elijah. The boys were his reason for fighting his battle with cancer for the last 10 years. Marlin is survived by his wife, Roberta; his daughter, Cynthia (Tiesson); grandsons, Isaac and Elijah; brother, Gary; sister-in-law, Joyce; brothers-in-law, John Harpster, Neil (Bonnie) Harpster; niece, Kathy Kunze; nephews, Todd (Michelle) Kunze, Desmond (Tomoko) Harpster, and Jeff (Londa) Harpster; and a large extended family and so many special friends we just can’t list them all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Esther Kunze; his brother, Darwyn; nephew, Tommy; parents-in-law, Bob and Ada Harpster; his grandparents; and special friends, Leon Stang and Dick Tessier. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Elks Camp Grassick, Bismarck Cancer Center, Central Dakota Humane Society; or a charity of the donor’s choice.