Paul Kunkel

February 1, 1947-January 30, 2015

Paul Anthony Kunkel, 67, passed away Jan. 30, 2015, at his home in Bedford, Ky. He was born in Covington, Ky., on Feb. 1, 1947, to Robert Kunkel and Catherine Broghammer Kunkel.

He was raised with his five siblings on a farm in northern Kentucky and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and the University of Missouri with a master’s in animal nutrition. In addition, he served his country in the Kentucky National Guard.

Paul and Nancy McLafferty were married in 1970 just before Paul began his master’s work in Missouri. When they returned to Kentucky, they settled in Bedford, where they raised their son, Brian, and daughter, Anne, on their farm.

Paul loved working with beef cattle, while Nancy worked with Quarter Horses, and the two taught their children the value of hard work and the importance of caring for one another. Paul loved being with his children and grandchildren, and his family was a true source of pride for him.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Kunkel, of Bedford; Brian (Carolee) Kunkel of Bedford; Anne (Jason Pintler) Kunkel, of Boise, Idaho; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

After a short tenure working for KABA (Kentucky Artificial Breeders Assoc.)-Select Sires as a beef specialist and sales representative, Paul began work with Select Sires, Inc. in Plain City, Ohio, in 1974. He served as a beef specialist and was in charge of marketing and public relations in the beef department.

Paul and the late Roy Wallace worked tirelessly to improve beef genetics across the United States. Early in his tenure at Select Sires, Paul had the opportunity to work with the first European imports to the United States.

He left the Select Sires main office in 1991 to become general manager of KABA, where he served until KABA and Cache Valley Select Sires merged in 2012 to create Select Sires MidAmerica. Upon the merger, Paul served as assistant manager.

In addition, Paul had a great passion for his family and helping others. While serving as a Little League coach for his grandchildren, he took a great interest in improving the Trimble County Little League. He made sure every child had the opportunity to play, providing gloves, bats and cleats to those in need. He served as president of the Trimble County Youth Baseball League from 2009-13 and helped transform the youth baseball league into a sanctioned Little League.

A memorial service was held Feb. 6, at Ransdell Funeral Home in Bedford, followed by a Mass at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Independence, Ky. Arrangements were by Ransdell Funeral Home.

(Note: Mr. Kunkel’s employment information was provided to Farm World by his employer last week; though he passed in January, we elected to go ahead and publish the obituary late in this instance.)