Lenexa - Wayne Kunard, 91, went to his Heavenly Home on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. He was born September 10, 1933, on a farm in the Chippewa Hills west of Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Hershel and Ellen (Young) Kunard. He was the last survivor of three Kunard children, including John and Donna Kunard, who married three children of Ernest and Leta Dunn. Wayne married Vera Dunn on June 5, 1955, at the Wellsville Baptist Church. RB Shoemaker was the pastor, who also married Donna in 1954 and John in 1959 to their spouses.

Wayne started employment in high school at Loux Hatchery, then at Woolworth's in Ottawa. He briefly worked at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka before joining the Navy in 1952. He went to boot camp in San Diego, California and was then stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. He then served on the Destroyer Tender USS Shenandoah. He completed optical school and earned the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class with the MOS of OM3 (Optical Man 3rd Class). He was honorably discharged from active duty in November of 1956 and was in the Reserve Duty until 1960. He started work at Bennett Creamery from 1958 to 1962. After further schooling at Central Technical Airline School, he briefly worked for the FBI. Eventually, he began working for Colgate Palmolive in 1962. After starting work there, he completed a 4-year apprenticeship program and became a journeyman Machinist. Wayne was always a hard worker and dedicated family man.

Upon his retirement from Colgate, Wayne, Vera and their grandson Chris traveled the United States on family trips and musical trips. Wayne and Vera also accompanied Chris to Europe with the Kansas Ambassadors through many countries where Chris performed with the Kansas Music Ambassadors.

Wayne was a member of the First Baptist Church of Shawnee for 63 years. He served as a deacon and helped in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree for 30 years. He was a former member of New Hope Baptist Church and North Baptist Church in Ottawa.

Wayne is survived by his two children, LeEllen Kunard and Allen Kunard; his two grandchildren, Chris Kunard (raised by Wayne and Vera) and Jacob Haynes; a foster grandson, Marshall Haynes; his sister, Margaret Joy Kunard; his two sisters-in-law, Loretta Kunard and Cora Kunard; and by many nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Vera on October 30, 2024; by his parents, Hershel and Ellen; by his three brothers, his twin, Dwayne Kunard, John Kunard and Merle Joe Kunard; his two sisters, Donna Dunn and husband Bob and Martha June Greiner and husband Steve; and his nephew, Bryant Kunard.

Funeral service for Wayne will be at 11:00am on Saturday, August 23 at the North Baptist Church of Ottawa. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time at the church. Burial will be in the Ruhamah Cemetery at Rantoul. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Ottawa North Baptist Food Pantries, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451.