John Taylor Kunz

John Taylor Kunz passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones in Hurricane, Utah on June 21, 2023.  He was 87 years old and a resident of Redmond, Utah.
    He was born September 27, 1935 in Salt Lake City to Morris Quincy and Rhea Allred Kunz.  John was the sixth child of eight born to his mother.  He was however one of 31 siblings, being born into a polygamous family.
    He lived his early childhood in the Salt Lake area and then around 2nd grade, when his parents divorced, his mother moved the family to Farmington, Utah.  Although times were tough, he loved it there.  He developed his strong work ethic at an early age, working for local farmers to earn money.  He loaded hay with a pitchfork, picked fruit, milked cows and worked at Lagoon Amusement Park for a couple of summers.  He attended one year at Davis High School and then his mother got a teaching job in Hurricane.  He loved Hurricane High School, where he was well accepted.  He participated in football and wrestling and was voted senior class president.
    John had many friends throughout his lifetime and was well respected by his peers.  Whatever organization he participated in, he soon became the president or held some sort of leadership position.  He was a peacemaker and was fair to all.
    As a young adult, John worked for the state road, but his main profession was painting and drywall.  He was a perfectionist in whatever he did and could be counted on to do a great job.  He had a steady hand and occasionally painted signs for local businesses.  At one time, he owned his own painting and drywall business in Las Vegas.  In later years, he had a sandblasting business in Lehi.  Later still, he worked as a mechanic and supervisor at the Moroni Feed Company in Moroni and in Salina.
    John was a man with many hobbies and was good at them all.  He loved cars, Fords especially, and knew how to work on them and fix them.  He was great at construction, whether it was adding on rooms or building a complete shop.  His woodworking skills were pure perfection.  He made many tables, quilt racks and jewelry boxes which he gave as gifts to those of his family.  He built beautiful caskets for his youngest daughter Pam and his wife Jan to be laid to rest in.
    He LOVED competition and could be found often at the bowling alley, pool hall or the racetrack.  He won awards and trophies in all three areas but racing was his favorite.  He raced stock cars at Craig Road Speedway in Las Vegas and at the Bonneville Race Way , where he soon became president of the association.  It was an exciting hobby for him and also for his family and friends when they went to watch the races.
    But John’s greatest legacy was his large family.  He is the father to 15 children and the step-father to five more, all of whom he considers to be his pride and joy.  He was a goodly parent who taught his children well and with much love.  He has 93 grandchildren and an undetermined and ever growing number of great and great-great-grandchildren.
    Throughout his lifetime, John was married to several wonderful women: Joyce Jessop, Colleen Cook, Beth Cook (deceased), Jan Wallin (deceased) and Mary Talley.  He will be greatly missed by all.
    John’s children are: Callie (Kurt Losee), Dana (Ray Black-deceased), Angela (Gordon Beh), Natalie (Russ Meredith), John Darwin, John Tracy (Muriel), Holly (Wade Hansen), Sheldon (Vonda), Jim, Colette, Joe (Joyce), Denise (Nevin Pratt), Linda (Tom Green-deceased), Cal (Bonnie), Pam (deceased), David Summers, Ruth, Samantha, Jeff Hausauer (Laura), and Lisa (Mike Nagy).
    John’s siblings: Arlene (deceased), Donna (deceased), Myra (deceased), Charlotte, David, Sam (deceased) and Karen.
    Our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend was loved by so many.  He lived a great life and was an inspiration to all of us.  He taught by example and loved with all his tender, tender heart.  We will miss him so much.
    Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 in the Redmond Ward Chapel, 310 West 100 North with viewing from 9:30 to 11:30.  Burial will be in the Redmond Cemetery.  Funeral Directors, Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.  Online guest book www.maglebymortuary.com