This page is dedicated to Charles E. Kunz.. Charlie is the father of Charles D. Kunz (Chico) and Kathy Winnett, he is my father-in-law, my best friend, grandpa to Sarah, Matthew and Jessi and a great grandpa and was the caretaker and companion of the Alerissa Boxers. He is forever in our hearts!
Charlie is the reason we have Boxers.
The story of the Boxers and Charlie begin with a Boxer named Joe. In 1959 I believe Charlie decided that after seeing a Boxer dog that he had to have one for his family. I guess that when Charlie took Chico to see the Boxer puppies that Chico wanted the one with the red collar and so that is how Joe was chosen. He was not chosen for a show dog but for a best friend. And that is what Joe was to all of them.
Joe was a very special boy and had a job in the Kunz life. Joe was the one to watch over the kids. He took this job seriously when Kathy was a baby and spent time in a play pen. He would jump in to the play pen and then be chased out by Shelby. Chico was older than Kathy at the time. And Joe decided with Chico he had to hang on to that boy and literally he did. He would hang on to the coat sleeve of Chico.
The grandparents farm was next to their farm and Chico and Joe would walk to grandpa's house. One day Chico left without Joe. I guess Joe was sleeping. When Joe awoke and realized that his boy was gone he ran out to find him. Tragically, he ran on to the gravel road and a truck hit him. Joe was taken from this family way to soon. But his memories and stories were told for years to come.
The next Boxer that was part of Charlie's life was Bach. Bach lived with Chico and I in town. Charlie would come over during the day and be Bach and Mozart's pet sitter letting him them out when Bach was a puppy. He loved that big old boy.
When it was decided to buy Willow Wood, Charlie became an important part of this. Charlie lived with us in his own private living quarters in our house. He took care of the property and kept it like a golf course. He was a part of Willow Wood and the Alerissa Boxers. He watched over all of the Boxers.
Mozart the terrier mix, tired of all those Boxers sleeping with his people decided that he would become Charlie's constant companion and he moved into the South Wing with Charlie. Mozart was referred to as his little buddy. If you passed our property you would see Charlie working and Mozart right behind him. I remember so many times I would see Charlie playing with Mozart rolling in the yard. On September 30, 2007 Charlie let Mozart out in the early morning as always. That morning Mozart did not come back. Charlie found Mozart laying peacefully under a pine tree. He loved his little buddy.
I don't remember exactly when Destiny became his constant companion. Destiny began by going over to the South wing in the morning and spending the day but always coming back to the North wing in the evening to sleep. In the day time she would follow him all over the property of Willow Wood and watch him work. Then one day Destiny stayed all through the night and she never left Charlie's side for a moment.
Charlie loved each and everyone of the Boxers. I do believe that Chopin was one of his favorites. Chopin reminded him of his Joe. He was more partial to the fawns than the brindles. I guess because his first Boxer Joe was a fawn and that is what he thought Boxers should be. He adored Faith and would have had her with him all of the time but she was Chico's girl. But each day Charlie would take Faith on a 2 mile walk.
When we had puppies he was there to help and to love them. Anxious like a proud grandpa waiting for those puppies to be born. While I was working he would be taking care of the mommies and loving those little ones. There were the little runts of the litter that he would make sure that they were getting special attention from mommy. Casey Jones was so dear to his heart and he made sure that Casey got special attention from mom and little extra from a bottle. He kept the area clean while I was away. Charlie loved the times when we introduced the puppies to the outside world. And when the puppies would leave us for their families he was there to say give his goodbye hug. Soon he would be saying when we going to have another litter. Of course he loved telling his breakfast buddies about the puppies and showing them off to his best friend Vern.
Charlie loved Willow Wood, enjoyed every moment with the Boxers and is missed every day by all of us.
Thank you Charlie for the stories, the great times and for bringing the Boxer into our lives. Forever In Our Hearts!
