John Kuncl

JOHN VACLAV KUNCL

Cedar Rapids

John Vaclav Kuncl passed away Sunday, May 29, 2016, at his home in Royal Palm Beach, Fla., following a brief illness. He was 82 and the rock of his loving family. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Palms West Funeral Home in Royal Palm Beach. Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Wellington, Fla., with burial to follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery.

John, known by most as Jack, was born in Cedar Rapids on Jan. 25, 1934, to William and Clara (Viktor) Kuncl. He attended St. Ludmila's Catholic School and Wilson High School before joining the army and serving his country in Korea. After discharge, he attended technical college in Detroit becoming skilled in electronics. While in Detroit, Jack met elevator operator Catherine Vella, a recent immigrant from Hamrun, Malta. Jack and Catherine were married in Detroit on Aug. 28, 1954. Jack and Catherine had the first four of their nine children while living in Detroit. In 1959, Jack returned with his family to Cedar Rapids and began working at Square D. He built a home on property adjacent to his childhood home on the southwest side. Over the next several years, Jack and Catherine added five children to their family.

Jack was a natural entrepreneur with a creative mind and a strong work ethic. In 1964, he bought Spryncl's Drive-In, which he renamed "Tic Toc." He operated the Tic Toc with his family until 1974. Some of Jack's other local business ventures included the Stadium Lounge, Tubbs Transport and Iowa Ice, which he founded with brothers-in-law Kermit Zimmerman and Joe Davis. He also sold real estate for several years. In 1981, Jack moved his family to West Palm Beach, Fla., to join his brother, Tom, in a publishing business. In 1991, he started a new venture, Produce Depot and Red Barn Sheds, where he continued to work until just a few days before his passing. All of Jack's business ventures included his family and we all learned the importance of honesty and hard work from him. He was proud to have his daughter Kay working with him in partnership over the past 25 years.

Jack returned home to Cedar Rapids often to visit friends and family. He was proud of his Czech heritage. He enjoyed kolaches, Pohlena weinies and a beer or two with good company. Jack never knew a stranger, was kind and generous to a fault. He saw the good in every person he met. "The Silver Fox" was the life of every family gathering and was adored by his many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Catherine; son, Viktor Kuncl; daughter, Audrey Kuncl DeVivo; granddaughter, Nicole; and his siblings, Marie Reinhart, Verna Wagner, Rose Rossie, Martha Zimmerman, JoFran Davis and Tom Kuncl.

Jack is survived by daughters, Monica (Jimmy) Salcedo, Kay Kuncl, Mary (Jeff) Quell, Susan (Tom) Flaherty, Elizabeth (Steve) Woods and Sara (David) Hovatter; and son, Vincent (Diana) Kuncl. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, all of whom he dearly loved.