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Herman Rudolf Kunde (Si)3, born November 27,
1907 near Visalia, Tulare County, California, the son of
Albert Edward Kunde2 and
Helena R. (Hunke) Kunde2.
He was christened February 23, 1908.
As a child he was a pen pal of his cousin Minnie Eckers. Si resided with his mother and a varying number of his brothers at 200 Wilbur Avenue, Yuba City, from 1918 through 1930. In 1927 and 1929 his occupation was given as student. He graduated with the first class from Yuba City High School in 1927 and Yuba Community College in 1930. In April, 1930 he was still living in the family home with his mother and younger brother Ernie. Both brothers were described as laborers working at odd jobs. The family of Si’s brother Otto lived next door at #208, and that of his brother Edward in the next house at #210. All three houses were stated to be on a farm. In 1931 Si resided at 429 Wilbur Avenue, actually the same home, all the houses on the street having been renumbered. He was employed as a driver by Yuba City Milling Company in that year.
Herman married, September 27, 1931 in Falon, Churchill County, Nevada, Doris Annette Smith of Marysville. She was born October 17, 1909 in Elk Creek, or Willows, Glenn County, California, the daughter of Edward Ebenezer Smith and Annette (Vanderford) Smith. Children:
In 1938 Si bought a three story home at 3rd and Ivy Streets in Chico. He was still of Chico at the time of his mother's death in January, 1941. During World War II Si was in the Navy, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific war zones. In 1943 he received a commission appointment as lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was at the University of Arizona, Tucson, for indoctrination and training from March 8 to April 18, 1944. On August 1, 1944 he took up his first duty station as harbor entrance control officer at Fort Scott, San Francisco H.E.G.P. In the same year he moved his family to Kentfield, Marin County, California. On November 1, 1944 he was ordered to a new duty station as harbor entrance control officer at Fischer's Island, Long Island Sound, New York, where he served until V.E. day (July 1, 1945). On August 1, 1945 he received orders to go to Okinawa as a ship repair officer. V.J. day occured while he was enroute there. From October 1, 1945 to February 3, 1946 he was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii awaiting points for separation. During 1945 he was promoted to full lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He was separated from active duty on May 28, 1946, but continued to serve in the Navy as a reserve officer afterwards, with yearly two week training tours. On November 10, 1946 Si moved his family from Kentfield to Newman, California. On December 1, 1948 Si became commanding officer of a communications unit in Gustine and served from that date to April 30, 1951 as Twelfth Naval District Commandant's Local Representative with recruiting and swearing-in duties. Si purchased a house at 1223 S Street in Newman in 1949. On April 2, 1952 Si was appointed lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy reserve. In 1954 he purchased a 38 acre parcel of land at Hills Ferry Road and River Road on the San Joaquin River, installing a well and pump there the next year, and raised barley, beans, corn, melons, carrots, tomatoes and alfalfa there through the years until 1964, when he leased the land to several different renters. Si was of Newman in 1955, when his brother Otto died. In 1962 the Kundes sold the S Street house and lived in a cabin on the Hills Ferry farm. In 1966 Si qualified for retirement with pay from the U.S. Navy, and on November 27, 1967 he transferred to Naval Reserve - retired. Si established his own agricultural chemical company at Newman in 1947, which he operated until 1962 when he sold the business. He was living in Newman in 1955. In 1965 Si and Doris bought a three bedroom house at 4515 North Nugget Avenue, Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, where they lived through at least 1975. From 1967 through 1969 Si's occupation was given as buyer for the California Packing Corporation. Afterwards, from 1970 until his retirement in November 1972, he was a field representative and raw products buyer for the Del Monte Company. Si's occupation was given as retired in 1975. From at least the late 1970s through 1986 the Kundes lived at 520 Rialto Avenue, Stockton, California. In 1977 he sold the Hills Ferry farm.
On February 1, 1980 Si and Doris moved to 102 Venetian Terrace Apartments at 5020 Virtue Avenue and Marco Polo Street, Stockton. Finding apartment life unsatisfactory, they moved back to their home at 4515 Nugget on June 1 of the same year. On May 17, 1981 Si and Doris celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary at the Hilton Hotel in Stockton. Doris Kunde died May 20, 1986 at their daughter's home in Los Banos, Merced County, California, after a month at Oaknoll Naval Hospital. Her funeral was held May 23 in Marysville, California. She was buried in Browns Valley Pioneer Cemetery, Browns Valley, California. Her grave bears a marker with the following inscription:
From 8/6/2012 revision.
Published by Fleabonnet Press. |
