Roger C. Kunze

Roger was born Dec. 5, 1943. He passed away Feb. 7, 2017 at the San Juan Living Center after a short bout with cancer. Roger was born and raised in Gunnison County. He grew up on the family homestead at the base of Ohio Pass, better known as the Kunze place. As a young man, he went on to work for Otis Moore and several other ranches in the valley before becoming a permanent hand for John Wilson and Adams Ranch where he spent the next 25 years raising his family and teaching his children how to handle livestock and break horses. He taught his children that ranching was truly a way of life to be admired. Later on in life, he also worked for Ochs Brothers Ranch and spent time through the years helping a local guide service first owned by Wallace Hildreth and later bought by Paul and Steve Pike. He loved hunting and anything to do with the outdoors. His last few jobs were riding for Howard Funk in Saguache Park and helping his nephew Tracy Hildreth on Moncrief Ranch. Roger loved spending time watching his children and grandkids with their 4H projects and rodeoing. He was preceded in death by his son Tommy. He is survived by his three sons Jimmy, Roger, and J.D., six grandkids and 7 great grandchildren. Services will be held on Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Fred Field Memorial building at the fairgrounds. A huge thanks to Cindy West and all of the members of the Cattle Women's Association for providing lunch after the service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the 4H Forever Fund, Gunnison County Extension, 275 S. Spruce Street, Gunnison, Colorado 81230.