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KUNZMAN, WALLACE WILLIAM age 89, passed away peacefully in sleep, February 11, 2015 in Albuquerque, NM. Wally was born June 14, 1925 to Elva and Samuel L. Kunzman in Selma, IA. Wally grew up in rural southeastern Iowa and like every boy in his neighborhood he had to choose between rooting for the Cubs or for the Cardinals. However, in 1935 an 11th straight win over the Dodgers to put the Cubs in first place sealed Wally's fate as a Cubs fan and he was the best fan a team could ever ask for. Wally was in the Navy during WWII on the USS Bennett, seeing action throughout the pacific, most notably in the battle of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He graduated from Parsons College with a degree in English and moved to New Mexico in 1958. Wally held several careers throughout his life, including a coach, teacher and most notably as an insurance salesman. He had a series 7 securities license, CLU and CHFC designations. He was beloved by all his clients and was one of the most good-natured people you could ever meet. Wally was a great American and a testament to the human spirit. He had cheated death, most notably when a dud bomb damaged his ship during the battle of Iwo Jima, when a Kamikaze left his destroyer dead in the water during the invasion of Okinawa, and when his ship was caught in a typhoon in the Aleutian Islands right after' the war. More comically, in hindsight, he was trying to beat a train across the tracks when he was driving a truck in the 1950's. Wally said he knew he was in trouble when he realized it was going to be a tie. His tie with the train sent him to the hospital and then to a new career in insurance. Wally had a vision of playing ball with his sons. It took hold. The "Kunzmans" played softball for over a decade with sons, friends and a good recruit or two. They won trophies, had fun and "The Aces" were good. Wally retired from pitching at age 60 and son James took over. Throughout his life Wally always had a positive attitude and saw the brighter side of things. This may have been either the cause or the effect of his being a lifelong Cubs fan, but with Wally hope always sprung eternal and hopefully he can see his beloved Cubs win a World Series from the other side. Wally was preceded in death by his mother and father, Samuel and Elva, his first wife, Caroline, his son, James S. Kunzman, his grandson, Cole Kunzman, his nephew Douglas Parks and brother-in-law O.R. Parks. Wallace is survived by his wife of 40 years, Doris; his sons Wallace W. Jr. and wife DeeAnn, Jeffrey E. and wife Lucille; his daughter-in-law Deborah; step-children Jeri and husband Lonnie Mowry, Jodene Hanna and Jeff Vallentine; his two siblings, Pauline Parks and Charley Kunzman and wife Shirley; and grandchildren Samuel J. and Mark A. Kunzman, Jamis Kunzman, Ashley Kerr, Babette Cooper, Courtney and Kayla Vallentine, nieces Teri, Jani and Cindy; and numerous great- grandchildren. Wally will be sorely missed. A memorial will be held at a later date, sometime in May.
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