Obituaries

Karen Ann Cecilia Kunkel (nee Kramer), 65, of Union, Kentucky passed away peacefully at her home on May 26, 2026 surrounded by her loving husband and family. Karen was born to Frank and Yvonne Kramer in Hamilton, Ohio, March 13, 1961. She built a life anchored in family and a deep lifelong devotion to her Catholic faith.

Karen was raised on her father’s vegetable farm in Oxford, OH. Her family lived a life rooted in faith and hard work. Karen’s parents were pioneers for the Traditional Catholic Faith who both worked tirelessly to ensure that the Tridentine Mass would continue to be celebrated in Cincinnati. In the early years, the Kramer family travelled frequently to Louisville, KY to attend the Traditional Latin mass.

At age thirteen, it was there that Karen met Bill Kunkel from Boone County, KY. Karen was the calm and peaceful compliment to Bill’s often stormy and passionate temperament.

She graduated from Talawanda High School, where she played clarinet (and rode a unicycle simultaneously!) in the marching band.

She and Bill were married on October 13, 1979. Together in a camper, they traveled the country raising nine children while Karen homeschooled them all. Eventually they built a house in Union, KY, where they raised their children. A devout parishioner of Assumption Chapel in Walton, Kentucky, Karen always taught her children a love of God, family and country by her good and strong example.

Saint Therese once said “To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.” If you needed your dresses altered, Karen was the one to see! Taught a love of sewing by her grandmother, she was always whipping up matching dresses for her girls and helping many a bride-to-be with last minute alterations.

She had a great love for her family and could be found in the kitchen making movie night popcorn and washing dishes. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She thought, prayed and worried over all 21 of them. Karen always had a good listening and compassionate ear for anyone who needed a friend and will be missed deeply by many.

As a devoted wife of 46 years to her loving husband Bill, Karen always joined in and was a big part in all of his many inventive projects. Working tirelessly for Kentucky politics, Karen helped her husband to put up 500+ signs in a single year. They visited all 120 counties in the state of Kentucky.

Karen was the beloved wife of William “Bill” Kunkel and mother to Mary Frances Bitzer (Zach), Sara Marie Hummel (Benjamin), William Robert Kunkel (Marianna), Andrew Michael Kunkel (Mariah), John Lawrence Kunkel, Leo Richard Kunkel (Molly), Joan Elizabeth Sargent (Henry), Jerome Anthony Kunkel and Caeli Marie Kunkel.

She was sister to Darryl Kramer (Paula), Lisa Reist (Matt), Jerilyn Butler (Billy), Dennis Kramer, Patti Brueggemann (Rick), Danny Kramer (Angie), Teresa Wuestefeld (Tim) and daughter to Frank and Yvonne Kramer. Karen was a wonderful grandmother to John, Zoe, Julius, James, Joachim, Justin, Yvonne, Jude, Liam, Julia, Emilie, Eloise, Oliver, Leo Jr., Michael, Camilia, Philomena, Erin, Andrew, Avery and Eli as well as Godmother to many.

She was preceded in death by her mother Yvonne Emilie Kramer and brother Dennis Lee Kramer.

Vigil will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 8461 Dixie Hwy, Florence, Kentucky, 41042 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The Vigil will begin with the Holy Rosary starting promptly at 3:00 PM. The Requiem Mass will be offered the following day at Our Lady of the Assumption, 472 Beaver Road, Walton, Kentucky on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Directly following the Requiem Mass, the burial will be at the Kunkel Family Cemetery.

The Kunkel Family kindly request guests follow Traditional Catholic dress code (modest dress clothes for all, chapel veils and skirt or dress for ladies) if attending Mass.

In lieu of flowers or in addition, the family requests Masses be offered for the repose of Karen’s soul. Memorial donations can also be made to Assumption Academy Boys’ School Building Campaign online at boysacademy.org. Please remember Karen in your prayers.