Thomas Kuestler

Thomas H. Kuenstler, 89, died at his Grafton home on Friday, Oct. 5.  

Mr. Kuenstler was born in Noble, Ill., on Feb. 13, 1929, to Frank and Frances Deimel Kuenstler.  

In 1946, he graduated from Olney High School before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  

On Sept. 12, 1953, Mr. Kuenstler married LaVerne Zahn at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milwaukee.

Mr. Kuenstler was a manager for A&P Foods, and he and his wife moved around the state as he took on different stores to manage. In 1979, the couple settled in Grafton, where they owned and operated T&L Foods until 1993.  

Mr. Kuenstler was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Grafton and Rose Harms American Legion Post #355. He enjoyed golf and was proud of his yard and flower gardens, his family said.

Mr. Kuenstler is survived by his wife LaVerne of Grafton; children Gail (Leo) Dondlinger of Auburn, Wash., Peggy Gaulke of Grafton, Mary Ellen (David) Kent of Hancock, Mich., David (Kathy) of Manitowoc, Jeffrey (Janice) of Rome, Robert (Salley) of Jackson and Ronald (Julie) Kuenstler of Saukville.  

He is further survived by 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mary Jane Kuenstler of Olney, Ill.; brothers-in-law Louis Filo of Menomonee Falls and Charles VanThiel of Kenosha.  

Mr. Kuenstler was preceded in death by son-in-law AJ Kent, sister Dorothy Rubson, brothers Gerald, John, Victor and Vincent, sisters-in-law Gloria VanThiel, Ann Kuenstler, Kathleen Zahn and Gerry Filo, and brothers-in-law Ray Zahn and Oscar Rubson.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Tuesday, Oct. 9, at St. Joseph Parish in Grafton. Father Mike Barrett presided.

Private family interment with military honors was held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials to St. Joseph’s School are suggested.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, handled the arrangements.