Doris Jean (Wing) Kunkel
Doris Jean (Wing) Kunkel, age 90, lifelong resident of LaGrange, Illinois and parishioner of Saint Cletus Parish. Beloved wife of 57 years to the late Robert (Bob). Loving mother of William (JoAnn), Thomas (Geraldine), Jeffrey, and Marianne (Robert) Frederick. Cherished grandmother of Katherine (Cory) Kamholz, Robert (Emily) Kunkel, Jeffrey (Sean Doe-Simkins) Kunkel and Michael Kunkel; Kelly (Pam) Zipper, William (Kayla Marx) Kunkel and Kristy (Adam) Biodrowski; Sarah (James) Swanson, Kevin (Sarah) Kunkel and Kelly (Gabriella Cipriani) Kunkel; and Ashlee (Jay) Jasper. Cherished great-grandmother of Theo and Will Kamholz, Nora and Grace Kunkel, Blake and Parker Swanson, Wesley and Quinn Kunkel. Sister of Diane Ammons. Doris was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (wife of her son Jeffrey), and great-grandson, Milo (son of Kevin and Sarah).
Doris grew up in Maywood, Illinois, Maquoketa, Iowa and Villa Park, Illinois. She met Bob at Hendricks’ Pharmacy in Maywood and they were married on September 10, 1955. They began their married life in Cicero while Bob finished pharmacy school and she worked as an executive secretary for the Public Service Company (a predecessor to Commonwealth Edison). They moved in 1958 to LaGrange and she began her busy life as a mother, girlfriend, bridge partner, Cub Scout den mother, Saint Cletus Woman’s Council president, and party planner. She poured her energy into her family and friends. After the children were grown, she worked for Chas A. Stevens and the Hinsdale Woman’s Clinic. She died peacefully surrounded by family at Plymouth Place.
Visitation will be at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 West 55th Street, Countryside from 9:00am until 10:30am on Friday, January 27th. Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am at Saint Cletus Church, 600 West 55th Street, La Grange, Illinois. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Robert C. and Doris W. Kunkel Endowment for Tuition Assistance at Saint Ignatius College Prep are appreciated https://www.ignatius.org.
For Service Information: 708-352-6500
Doris was my first cousin on my father Dillon Romer’s side. She was ten years older than I. She was so pretty, and happy. She just glowed. She was so grown up! She moved from Maquoketa, Iowa where I lived, to the Big City of Chicago!
She met some guy named Bob there, and despite some of my elders’ whispers of disapproval for his Catholicism, she married him. She married the man she loved, and got away with it!
As the years went by, I didn’t see much of Doris; but when I did, she inspired me with her love, her laughter, and her strength. She faced adversity with a sense of humor and dignified optimism. She took charge of her own life, without hurting anyone else, it seemed to me.
Doris made a world of people better by the way she lived, and by the way she left us.
Tish—- This is a wonderful eulogy for my mother. The deacon at her burial this morning had found your kind and very meaningful words and read them to our family at the service. I really appreciate your perspective. ❤️❤️❤️