Lenexa - Vera M. Kunard, 87, went home to Heaven on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from her home in Lenexa, Kansas. She was born on January 1, 1937, the daughter of Edward and Leta (Curtis) Dunn. She was the first New Year's baby born at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa, Kansa

Vera grew up in the Elm Grove and Sand Creek neighborhoods and was active in the Elm Leaf and CloverLeaf 4-H Clubs. After completing her grade school education at Sand Creek, she went to Ottawa Senior High School. While in high school, she was active in Kayette and Future Homemakers of America, obtaining the honor of State Homemaker degree. She graduated on the High Honor Roll with the class of 1954. Later on, Vera helped plan all of the class reunions and was secretary of the alumni to keep them informed of different activities of classmates. After graduation from high school, she enrolled in Stweart's Beauty Academy in Topeka, Kansas. After her graduation she returned to Ottawa and worked for Mabel Snyder at the Freedan Beauty Shop and then for Maxine Lewis at the Rainbow Beauty Shop in Ottawa, Kansas.

Vera met her future husband, Hershel Wayne Kunard, when her older brother was dating and later married Wayne's older sister. Vera was married to Wayne Kunard on June 5, 1955, in Wellsville. They had two children, Allen and Le Ellen. After their marriage, they moved to Norfolk, Virginia where Wayne completed his tour of duty in the US Navy.

Vera was a former member of Ruhamah Baptist Church and later the Ottawa North Baptist Church. After moving to Shawnee, Kansas she became a member of First Baptist Church of Shawnee and was very active as the Pioneer Girl's Leader and The Angel Tree project with Prison Fellowship, where she was Director of Prison Fellowship for 4 state regions. She worked for many years for her friend, Nealie Davis in the beauty shop at Sharon Lane Nursing Home in Shawnee.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Leta; by her brother, Robert Dunn and wife, Donna; by her sister in law, June Geiner and husband, Steve; by her two brothers in law, Joe Kunard and John Kunard; and by her nephew, Bryant Kunard.

Vera is survived by her husband, Wayne, of over 69 years; her two children, Le Ellen Kunard of Lenexa and Allen Kunard of Ottawa; two grandsons, Christopher Kunard, who they raised as another son and Jacob Haynes, both of Lenexa; a foster great-grandson, Marshall Haynes of Kansas City, Missouri; her sister, Cora Kunard of Ottawa; two sisters in law, Loretta and Joy Kunard of Tonganoxie; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Vera will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 9, at the Ottawa North Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Ruhamah Cemetery at Rantoul. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Ottawa North Baptist Church (food pantry), sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451.