Leonard William Curtis Kunz Obituary (1944

Leonard William Curtis Kunz, 73, died peacefully at home Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Yakima's most interesting man, Leonard graduated from Davis High in 1963 and later enlisted with the Navy. He made three tours to Vietnam, one aboard ship and two with the Underwater Demolition Teams, now known as Navy SEALs. Leonard was on the backup recovery team for the Apollo 8 splashdown. After his service, Leonard graduated from Central Washington University. Leonard followed in his father's footsteps and became a Union Carpenter and later a construction superintendent. Leonard started his own business, Skydive Yakima, in 1992. There, he met his soul mate, Gail. They married in 2000, and together they traveled the world. Len's life could be characterized as a study in facing and besting challenge - if on the wrestling mat or track, serving in the Special Forces, crisscrossing the country on endurance motorcycle trips, or turning remaindered wood into works of art, he broke records, forged fierce friendships, and created beauty where nobody else could see it. Leonard will be remembered for his amazing pies, his devotion to his nieces and nephews of multiple generations, his epic motorcycle road trips, his love of animals, and his sense of mischief. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Esther and Bill Kunz, and by his nephew, TJ Langley. He is survived by his beloved wife Gail (Snipes) Kunz, twin sisters, Arlene Spaulding and Darlene Langley of Seattle, and Yakima respectively, and extended family including nieces and nephews: Christina Spaulding-Simon and family (Berkeley, CA), Willy Spaulding and family (Bellingham), Matt Langley and family (Vashon), Joy Langley and family (Mercer Island), and father- and mother-in-law, Don and Nadyne Snipes, and brothers-in-law, Dan Snipes and family, and Doug Snipes and family, all of Yakima. A casual Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 28, from 12:00-4:00 pm, at the Barn in the Ahtanum Youth Activities Park (1000 Ahtanum Road, Union Gap, WA 98903). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: Yakima Humane Society http://www.yakimahumane.org/donate/donation-programs/ or The Navy Seal Foundation https://www.navysealfoundation.org/ or in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936). SERVICES Funeral service Saturday, July 28, 2018 12:00 PM Ahtanum Park ,