Rita Lu (Magnuson) Kunkel, 78, of rural Sedgwick, passed
away on Feb. 20, 2022, after a short illness. She was born on Nov. 10, 1943, to
Robert and Ethel (Hannemann) Magnuson.
As a child, Rita attended Centennial Grade School, a
one-room country school. After graduating from Newton High School in 1961, she
went on to Southwestern College in Winfield, where she received her B.A. in
English in 1965 and met her husband, Orren Dale Kunkel. In 1977, she achieved a
master?s degree in library science from the University of Hawaii. Rita pursued
a career in library science as a librarian at the Institute of Logopedics and
Bethel College.
Rita had a great love for her family?s farm, the beauty of
nature and all living creatures, especially her cat named Jinx. She was an avid
tennis fan and didn?t miss the chance to watch televised tennis tournaments.
She enjoyed going on educational bus trips, attending live theatre
performances, and decorating for every holiday. Those close to Rita will always
treasure the thoughtful?and witty?cards, letters, and emails she sent.
Rita was predeceased by her parents and her husband. She is
greatly missed by her first cousins, Jeanette Peterson of Lindsborg; Patricia
Hannemann, Melissa Dimeo, and Donna Lamb, all of Wichita; her other relatives,
and many life-long friends.
A private burial took place on June 13, 2022, at Rose Hill
Cemetery in Lindsborg, where her parents and husband are buried. Memorials may
be sent to Caring Hands Humane Society, 1400 SE 3rd St., Newton, KS, 67114.
