John Wesley Kuntz Collins

John Wesley Kuntz was born to Wesley John Kuntz and Lucille Larsen Kuntz in Baraboo, Wisconsin on Sept. 7, 1949. He attended grade school in Baraboo until third grade when the family moved to Adams, Wisconsin. In 1963 the family returned to the Baraboo and John graduated from Baraboo High School with the class of 1967.

After high school John attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and graduated with majors in sociology and biology in 1971.

While attending the University in Eau Claire, John met and married Mary Watson. His family grew to include three daughters: Amy, Sarah, and Jill. The marriage dissolved in 1991.

Johns career included twenty-one years as a sales representative for Champion in Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. In 1999 John returned to Baraboo where he managed the newly installed soda fountain at Fritschs Corner Drug Store on Oak Street until it was moved down the block to Corner on Wisconsin.

John served his country as a member of the Army National Guard Units in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

While working at Corner Drug Store John met Mary Collins. John and Mary were married Dec. 24, 2004 by the Reverend Tom Lowery at Garden Party Restaurant which was then located above Corner Drug Store. At that time John claimed Collins as his surname.

Johns favorite pastimes included watching old and new movie dvds, music and traveling as long as his health would allow. He especially enjoyed the trips he and Mary took to Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama for the winter months.

On Jan. 1, 1990 John attended a concert by Mylon LeFevre. It was at that time John gave his life to Christ. While John was not a member of any formal religious group in Baraboo, he regularly attended the Sunday service at Walnut Hill Bible Church as long as his health allowed.

John passed away on Feb. 12, 2021 due to complications of heart and lung disease and diabetes.

John is survived by his daughters Amy (Brian) Gugel, Sarah (Pat) Hill and Jill (Kim) Kuntz-Andersen, his sisters Linda (Dan) Adelman, Beth (Phil) Foss, grandchildren R.T. Ragan, Alicia Corbitt, Patrick Hill and Matthew Gugel, niece Pauline (Daniel) Reller and their son, Jack Daniel Reller. John is further survived by his stepdaughter Kathryn (Jeffery) Teasdale and step-granddaughters Mary Kathryn (Adam) Hilgendorf and Kelly (Efrem) Blaha. He is also survived by one great grandson and three step great grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to SSM Cardiac Rehab Center at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Walnut Hill Bible Church, the SSM Hospice House in Baraboo or a charity of your choice.

Per Johns wishes no visitation is being held. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Redlin Funeral Home.