Lawrence John Kuntz

Lawrence (Larry) John Kuntz Larry passed away on April 17, 2026 in Vancouver, WA, at the age of 82 after a prolonged battle with vascular dementia. Born on May 9th, 1943 in Harvey, North Dakota to John and Kathleen (Senger) Kuntz, Larry was raised on the family farm in Drake, North Dakota where he was the oldest of four children. After graduating from high school, Larry spent a year in college before deciding to pursue a different path. He worked for a while for the Corps of Engineers, inspecting missile silos across the north-central part of the state. During this time, he needed parts for his VW bug. While at the dealership in Minot, he was asked if he would be interested in working as a mechanic for them, since he already seemed to know how to repair the cars. That was the beginning of an almost 40 year career with VW in various roles. He started as a mechanic and eventually rose to become the Regional Service Manager for the entire West Coast as well as Hawaii and Alaska. In 1998 he accepted a position as a Customer Consultant in the computer division of the company at the VW national headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. That was where he eventually retired in 2003. Larry was working at Import Motors in Minot when he met his future wife, Katharine (Kathy) Ann McKenzie. She was a student at Minot State College at the time. They were married in 1964 and had almost 62 years of life together. After his retirement, Larry and Kathy fulfilled a lifelong dream of 'hitting the road' and bought a used fifth wheel and a used truck to tow it. They sold their home and most of their belongings, keeping only memorabilia and some of Larry's precious tools. They were placed in storage. For the next five years they traveled all over the United States, Canada and Alaska. They ended up purchasing a slightly bigger RV after a year and Larry got his dream truck, a Ford F-450, to tow it. The couple created countless cherished memories while exploring many parts of North America over the years. They eventually settled in Vancouver in 2011 because of its ideal setting and mostly pleasant weather. Larry was a Certified Master Mechanic but his skills extended far beyond automobiles. People often joked that if Larry couldn't fix it, it wasn't fixable. He had a deep love for woodworking and gardening and always kept things in the home in excellent working order. His workshop was his 'man cave,' where he could often be found happily 'tinkering' on one project or another. Over the years, Larry developed an interest in genealogy and the history of his family. He became an active member of both GRHS (Germans From Russia Heritage Society) and GROW (Germans From Russia Oregon Washington). When the children were all still living at home, Larry was always actively involved in their lives supporting their sports, scouting, band, etc. He also devoted time to volunteering at his church. Larry was always a kindhearted and generous soul, often stopping to assist a stranded motorist or to help a homeless person in need. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Larry is survived by his wife, Kathy, and the four children: Michael and his wife, Mimi, Christopher, Stephanie and her husband, Jason Anaforian, and Andrew and four granddaughters: Mia, Alexandra, Lauren and Rachel, all of California. There are also three siblings: Mary Kaye Tillmann, Robert Kuntz and Noella Kuntz and many nieces and nephews. A Mass celebrating Larry's life will be held on July 7th, 2026, at 11:00 at Holy Redeemer Church in Vancouver. His ashes will be returned to North Dakota where they will be laid to rest with his parents. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association or Holy Redeemer Church in Vancouver.

Lawrence John Kuntz

May 9, 1943 - April 17, 2026