Bruce Kunze, 72, of Flandreau, SD, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024 at Edgewood Assisted Living in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services was held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Our Savior Saviors Lutheran Church in Flandreau.
Visitation took place from 5:00PM to 7:00PM with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 also at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.
Bruce Owen Kunze was born on February 20th, 1952, in Mitchell, SD, to Gerald and Phyllis (Freeman) Kunze. He was baptized and confirmed at United Methodist Church in Alpena, where he was also very active in the youth group. He grew up on a diversified farm two miles north of Alpena. Bruce attended Alpena Public Schools K-12 and graduated from high school in 1970. He went to SDSU and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy in 1974. Finally, he received his Master’s degree in 1983.
On September 17, 1977, he married Wanda Schneider in Eureka, SD. The couple lived in Parker, SD, for a few years before making their permanent home in Flandreau, SD.
He went onto work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service from 1974-2012. During his time with NRCS Bruce mapped over one million acres of South Dakota land. He is the author of the Soil Survey books for Turner, Moody, and Hamlin counties in South Dakota. Instead of retiring he started his own company Kunze Soil Consulting Inc., which he was operating till his passing. Bruce and Wanda were married for 46 years and had one daughter and two grandchildren together.
Bruce was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Flandreau, SD. He loved to sing in the choir. Some of his favorite things to do were spending time with family and friends, being involved in 4-H, square dancing, and traveling. He loved playing cards with family and friends at gatherings. He never met a stranger and was one of the kindest people you would ever meet. He loved his daughter, grandchildren, green tractors, soil, and walking in the pasture looking at his cattle.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Wanda Kunze of Flandreau, SD; daughter Emily (Devin) Mehlhaf, and grandchildren Cassandra Corene Mehlhaf and Beau Bruce Mehlhaf, all of Parkston, SD, his siblings Dennis Kunze of Alpena, SD, and Darlene (Steve) Hustrulid of Sioux Falls. Nieces and Nephews Kari Hustrulid, Timothy Hustrulid of Sioux Fall, SD; Matthew (Calli) Hustrulid of Rapid City, SD.
He will be missed by many loved ones, family and friends alike.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents Gerald and Phyllis Kunze, brother Allan Kunze; grandparents Otto and Marie Kunze, Frank and Esther Freeman, Father and Mother-in-law, Raymond and Ernestine Schneider.
