Wayne Allen Kunz was born November 13, 1951, to Walter K. Kunz and Elaine (Just) Kunz in Bismarck, ND.  He joined an older sister, Kerry (1950); followed by brother, Steve, in 1953, and brother, Kurt, in 1961. He was raised and educated in New Salem, ND, graduating with the class of 1969.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Zion Lutheran Church. Wayne started his working career quite young by hauling water for Schmidt's Cafe. In the fall of 1969, he entered Bismarck Junior College for one year where he received his prerequisite courses prior to two years at St. Alexius School of Radiology in Bismarck, ND.  He passed his X-ray boards in 1972.  He held various odd jobs prior to beginning work at St Joseph's Hospital in Dickinson, ND in January 1973.  He became the Assistant Supervisor in 1974.Wayne started training in Ultrasound Technology in 1979 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.  He passed his ultrasound boards in OB/GYN and Abdomen in 1981.  He became Radiology Director in 1985 and held that position until he resigned in 2003. Wayne then became a traveling technician for about 2 years helping staffing shortages in Rugby, ND, Billings, MT, Bowman, ND, and Hettinger, ND, where he was hired full-time and was employed there for 9 years.

He was introduced to his future wife, Dianne Ham, who was a medical technician in the laboratory at St. Joseph's Hospital.  They were married June 12, 1976, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD.  They have two sons, David, who was born in 1980, and Michael, who was born in 1983. After living in Dickinson, ND, for 41 years, he and Dianne retired in 2013. They had a home built in the Whitewood, SD area and moved there in the fall of 2013.

Wayne loved to spend time in the outdoors…hunting, fishing, canoeing, gardening, playing softball and tennis, plus flying after he achieved his private pilot's license in 1974. Wayne had been President of Southwest Anglers and a member of Roughrider Archers in Dickinson.

He also, loved to pick chokecherries in the late summer and prepare the berries to make juice.  He and Dianne would make jelly to share with family and friends.

Upon moving to Whitewood, they became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood, SD, where Wayne served on the council for 3 years and helped doing many various projects over the years, especially mowing the grass during the summer months. Wayne had many talents and wasn't afraid to tackle new projects.

He died at home on June 2, 2022, following a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by wife Dianne, (Whitewood); son, David and wife, Joanne (Rohnert Park, CA); son, Michael (Stevensville, MT); Golden Retriever, Jake; sister, Kerry Horton and friend, Arnie Donat (Bismarck, ND); brother, Steve Kunz (Fairbanks, AK); mother-in-law, Martina Ham (Lemmon, SD); brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Doug and Linda Ham (Shadehill, SD), Pat and Debra Nehl (Watauga, SD), Danette Miller (Parker, CO), and Doug and Dawn Hewitt (Miamisburg, OH); numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Elaine Kunz (New Salem, ND); brother, Kurt (Bismarck, ND); father-in-law, Donald Ham, and brothers-in-law, David Ham (Shadehill, SD), Bruce Miller (Parker, CO), and Bill Horton (Bismark, ND); niece, Jeanna Nehl (Watauga, SD), and Golden Retrievers, Ginger, Buddy and Gus.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Whitewood K-9 Unit for a new tactical vest for Davos. Email wcoc14@gmail.com for more information. Alternatively, another worthy cause to consider is: https://www.servicedogsforamerica.org/ .

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