Jack Kunkle Obituary

John Kunkle

Born: April 18, 1996

Died: Sept. 18, 2014

John "Jack" Kunkle, age 18, died September 18, during treatment for a recurrent brain tumor. "Stay Golden." Those are the words left to us by our favorite son, brother, and friend Jack Kunkle.

He was born in Chicago on April 18, 1996, grew up in La Grange and was a proud member of the LTHS Class of 2014. His too-short life was packed with the things he was passionate about; writing, acting, helping others and most of all making people laugh. He loved LT Relay for Life, Madrigals and Choir, countless theatre productions (where he always preferred on-stage to backstage), and Improv. He was excited to be in the first "Mr. LT" event this past spring, not because he won, but because people told him that his stand-up routine was hilarious. He was as quick to share a smile, joke, or assign a nickname to any friend, as he was to be there for deep conversation and thoughtful reflection. He knew the importance of living every day to its fullest, and diligently shared it with others; armed with his signature Cubs/Culver's cap that "made his blue eyes pop" and a large Jerusalem cross around his neck.

Jack leaves behind his parents, Ellen & John Kunkle; sisters, Leigh & Emily; and grandmother, Rose Deets; aunts and uncles, Marie and Steve Nagel, Ted and Ruth Kunkle, Bob Kunkle and Bev Schmitt, Bob Deets, Barb and Dan Eaton, and Steve and Renee Deets; many cousins, countless friends, and the myriad of people he touched wherever he went.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Baldrick's Foundation for pediatric cancer research (www.stbaldricks.org) are appreciated.

Visitation will be Friday, September 26th, 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Adolf Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison St; Willowbrook. A memorial service for Jack at Grace Lutheran Church in La Gange is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 10:30am.