Charles Edward Kunde September 14, 1937 – April 13, 2025

Charles Kunde, a long-time resident of Oregon, family man, fisherman, bird hunter, who loved homemade shortcake made with biscuits and Oregon Hood strawberries, any card game, and a good birddog, died April 13, 2025, at his ranch in Fossil, Oregon.

Charles Edward Kunde, known to his family as Charles and to many friends as Chuck, was born on September 14, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Rosalie (Schinnerer) Kunde and Emerson Charles Kunde, MD. His early years were spent in Woodstock, Illinois, but during World War II, his family relocated multiple times due to his father's service as an Army Flight Surgeon. After the war, the Kunde family returned to Marengo, Illinois, where Charles grew up and where many in his family continue to reside.

Chuck pursued his education at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana, earning his bachelor's degree. He was also a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He later attended U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign, eventually attaining the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG). He served four years on USS Thomaston (LSD-28), deploying to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Cuba, and Vietnam. In 1964, he was offered a promotion to Lieutenant upon reenlistment, but decided his time in the Navy had come to an end.

Shortly after leaving the service, he became a manufacturer's representative and consultant for California Pellet Mill Company headquartered in San Francisco. At the time, it was a century-old family-based business known for manufacturing processing equipment for the agricultural industry. His initial territory was Montana, the Dakotas and Northen Idaho. While there, he met his wife, Kara Edmonds, who had recently relocated from California. Over the years, CPM grew to become an international corporation, and with growth came a new territory in the Pacific Northwest. In 1967, the Kunde's and their young daughter, Melissa, moved to Oregon. In 1969, their son, Mark, was born. For the next 40 years, the Kunde's made their home in Lake Oswego, just south of the Portland area. He retired from CPM in 2017.

An avid sportsman, Chuck was most at home in the outdoors.  He had been fishing and hunting since he was a boy in Illinois. He loved upland bird hunting in Eastern Oregon. In 1991, he acquired a ranch in Northcentral Oregon, eventually moving there in 2008. Through the "gift" from a good friend, bird hunting now included a young English Setter. That one Setter pup set the path for the many that would follow as he became enthused with his pointing dogs and the people who shared his passion. An active member of Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America, he was an ardent supporter of the field trial community for over 20 years. He competed with his dogs throughout the West Coast & Canada, where they won many championships and qualified for the National Championships in Tennessee six times.

He is survived by his wife, Kara, his children, Melissa and Mark, two sisters, Sally (Steve) Kannaka and MaryJane (Alan) Schuring, both of Marengo, Illinois, who will forever hold his memory close, and a younger brother. He was preceded in death by his sister, Josephine (Frank) Oakley, also of Marengo.

A private graveside military service will be held at the I.O.O.F Cemetery in Fossil, Oregon to celebrate Charles's life and honor his memory.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Arthur Glover Memorial Park Rehabilitation Project, P.O. Box 467, Fossil OR 97830, or Tunnels2Towers Foundation (t2t.org), in his name.

Sweeney Payton Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.  Please leave your condolences for the family below.