Beata "Bea" Josephine Kunz

Beata “Bea” Josephine Kunz, age 96, of Mapleton passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church, Mapleton. Private family burial will be in Union Cemetery, Mapleton at a later date. Livestream of the service will be available at www.mankatomortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to St. John Lutheran Church, Mapleton or the St. John Lutheran quilting group.

Bea was born on August 8, 1928 to Leonard and Verna (Penkert) Hornick in Mulligan Township, Comfrey, Minnesota. She attended and graduated from Comfrey High School. Bea married Roland Kunz on September 9, 1953 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mankato, and spent most of her life farming with her husband near Mapleton.

Bea was a past 4-H leader for the Medoer’s and Boomerang’s 4-H clubs. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, and was a part of the St. John quilting group. She loved gardening, crocheting afghans, cutting quilt blocks, and sewing quilt tops for the St. John’s quilting group missions. Most of all Bea enjoyed spending time with her family, and was so proud of all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Bea is survived by her children, Gary (Nancy) Kunz, Linda Birr, and Carol (Curt) Lund; 13 grandchildren, Jenny (Jason) Doering, Jamie (Todd) VanderWeyst, Joni (Brad) Heins, Crystal (Justin) Kasmiskie, Joshua (Kelsey Ness) Kunz, Arianne (Ryan) Steenblock, Ben (Jodi) Birr, Melissa (Rob) Danks, Angela (Jason) Andreen, Cassie (Kyle Halla) Kohn, Amber (Brian) Leonhardi, Heather (Rich) Hedin, and Kayla Bissonette; 30 great-grandchildren, Brandon, Brian (Jackie), Brock, and Benaiah Doering, August, Ambrose, Asher, and Adeline VanderWeyst, Kaleb, Ahna, and Karsten Heins, Selah Kasmiskie, Juliet Langsjoen, Richard, Reimann and Lila Kunz, Annabelle and Wyatt Birr, Robert and Hannah Danks, Aideen, Emily, and Zachary Andreen, AJ and Riley Kohn, Kailyn and Kenidy Halla, Lindsey Leonhardi, and Katelyn and Jackson Hedin; 7 great-great grandchildren, Brysen, Brantley, Bennett, and Berkley Doering, Hudson, Maizy, and Sawyer Doering; sister-in-law, Viola Johnson; brother-in-law, Kenneth Kunz, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband, Roland; parents, Leonard and Verna Hornick; son-in-law, Mark Birr; brother, Ronald (Cheryl) Hornick; brother-in-law, Leonard (Esther) Kunz; sisters-in-law, Rosalia (John) Krengel, Mildred (Sylvan) Gerholz, Dorothy (Warren) Bohlke, and Marcella Ulman.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.