Anna Kunkel

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[gn_heading style=”1″]Anna (Anne or”Toodie”) L. Strutz Kunkel[/gn_heading]

[frame src=”https://michelottisawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/kunkel2.jpg” width=”200″ height=”300″ lightbox=”on” title=”Anne Kunkel” align=”left” ] Anna (Anne or "Toodie") L. Strutz Kunkel passed away on November 30th, 2011 with her daughters by her side. She will be greatly missed. Born on November 9, 1925 in Grand Forks County, ND, the daughter of Wilhelm and Esther Strutz, Toodie grew up on a farm in North Dakota. She graduated from St. Michaels Hospital in Grand Forks and began her career as an RN in Los Angeles before moving to Billings where she continued her nursing career. She was a long time member of the First Congregational Church where she met her husband, Edward H. Kunkel in the "Twenty-Thirty Club". They married on October 13, 1951.

Toodie was energetic (often referred to as the Energizer Bunny), vivacious, fun-loving, resilient, caring, generous in spirit and had a zest for life. She had a unique talent for engaging people in conversation by displaying genuine interest in learning about their lives, listening to their everyday stories and being generous with sharing her thoughts in return. Her sense of humor and optimism were endearing and much treasured by all her friends and family.

She enjoyed living in Northern California and Malaysia, but spent most of her adult life in Billings. She sang faithfully in her church choir and in the Billings Symphony Chorale, was an original member of the Symphony Associates and an active Kiwanis member. As a 50 year member of Chapter AN, PEO Sisterhood, she served as president and in other offices. Numerous organizations benefitted from her volunteerism, including Alberta Bair Theater, Billings Chamber of Commerce, Global Village, and the Headstart reading program. Toodie loved the mountains, music, hunting, fishing, camping and traveling the world with her family. Gardening was one of her passions, as was sewing. She was a loving wife and mother.

Toodie was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughters Joni Kunkel (Gary Melton) of Billings and Terry Schillios (Chuck Gruenenfelder) of Spokane, WA; her grandsons Christopher Schillios of Missoula, MT and Jonathan Schillios of Pullman, WA; her extended family members, all of whom she cherished, including her Vietnamese foreign exchange student "daughter" Quinn Tran (Bill Stelma), and "granddaughter" Laura Stelma of Redwood City, CA; and longtime friend Gerson Barnett.

Memorial services will be held at the First Congregational Church on January 7, 2012. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Kiwanis Special K Ranch, or a charity of your choice.