Alan Carl Kumnick

Alan Kumnick was the second son born to Mildred and Wilbur Kumnick. On Sept 11, 1945 in Oak Park, Illinois, his parents blessed his older brother Ron with a new friend and playmate, and they remained that way for life.

At an early age Alan enjoyed traveling the western US with his family visiting many National Parks. Throughout his life he was able to raft the Grand Canyon, take cruises along some of the finest rivers, and enjoyed seeing much of the US as well as Alaska and Hawaii. He even traveled to Europe. Traveling was something he enjoyed tremendously. Later in life, when he got dementia, he tried to convince Barb they had been to Egypt and Jerusalem even when they hadn’t. Or at least SHE hadn’t!

He also enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together again; lawnmowers, watches, cars and anything mechanical. Often, he didn’t even have left over parts! So, it’s no surprise to anyone that he made a career out of his passion and was a machine repair man at Caterpillar in Aurora, Il for 30 years until his retirement. He had several hobbies that filled his time. One hobby was his Lionel trains. He often had a room devoted to his trains and he would spend hours setting up tracks and building models of towns through which his tracks would run. His second hobby was collecting tools! From his many years at Caterpillar and his love of tinkering, he loved buying tools, and lots of them! He had entire garage full of evert kind of tool imaginable and he passed that love along to the next generation, and they passed it on to the next. Many Kumnick offspring will be enjoying his tools for years and years to come!

He retired before Barbara, a fact he loved to share, and while living in Ottawa IL, Barb was transferred to Lansing, Michigan, so off them went on a new adventure together. They were there for a few years, having a great time until it was time for Barb to transfer again to Charlotte, NC. It was here where Barb joined him in retirement, and they were able to spend some wonderful quality time visiting family and traveling both the US and abroad together. They were always learning about new cultures and meeting new people. To him there were no strangers, only friends he hadn’t met yet!

Al enjoyed volunteering at his church and especially spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and his beloved son in law Walter Hermann. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Barbara Kumnick. He had 3 great kids from a 14-year marriage to Della Reinhart in 1965. Denise Hermann, her daughters Ashley, married to Michael Golden with their children Charlotte, Louise, Henry, Teddy, Abel and Reid. Denise’s 2nd daughter Amanda and her husband Matt DeSilva and their children Grace and Max. David and his wife Jennifer von Kaenel with his daughter, Olivia von Kaenel and her children Luke and Etta; and Jennifer’s daughter, Haley. And finally, Chris and Melissa Kumnick and their children Kaegan and Kenna.

He wed Barbara in 1993 and they were married for 27 years until his death. In total he had 3 kids, 6 grandkids and 10 great grandkids. He was a blessed man, but he blessed us all. He loved us all, but we loved him more. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on and heartfelt stories will be told of him throughout the rest of our lives. We are planning a spring graveside service at Concordia Cemetery in Forest Park, Il. We love you, Al, forever and ever. Until we see you again! Have a Chicago dog for us and enjoy riding those trains in heaven.

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