Alois Kunc

June 19, 1947 - February 22, 2025

In loving memory ~

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father, and dedo, Mr. Alois Vaclav Kunc. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the age of 77 years. Alois was born on June 19, 1947, in Pisek, Czechoslovakia to Alois and Marie Kunc, the oldest son of three children.

Alois met the love of his life Marie at age eighteen. He received his Auto Mechanic License, attended a two-year mandatory Army Service, and worked as a Driving Instructor for twelve years. Alois and Marie married in January 1972 and had two children before emigrating to Canada at the age of 33. With two children, one suitcase and a heart full of dreams, they escaped communist Czechoslovakia in August 1980 and arrived in Red Deer, Canada on February 17, 1981. In Canada, Alois was soon known as Louie. His first job was working for Volkswagen as a mechanic and later worked for Dowell Schlumberger as an acid truck operator. All while managing three apartments (72 suites) and later driving a school bus.

In 1986, Alois and Marie fulfilled their dream of purchasing a farm and having their own rental properties for many years. For twelve years, they opened their home to foster children, touching the lives of many children in need. In 2010, at the age of 62, when most thought of retirement, not Louie, he embraced a new adventure, alongside his children, by purchasing Canyon Ski Resort.

Louie was an industrious man of great determination and always accomplished whatever he set out to conquer. He lived with great passion and always maintained his Czechoslovakian heritage in his daily life. He was extremely passionate about good food, self- sustainability and always enjoyed promoting his smoked meats and Czech delicacies. Furthermore, having sustainable heat sources was extremely important to him, mainly wood and coal boilers and hydronic heating systems were his specialty.

He understood better than most the complexity of world social and political systems and did not shy away from debating and sharing his strong beliefs. He believed if you knew history you could learn from the past and know the future. But by far, his largest passion was his family, whom he focused his entire life to provide a prosperous future for and directed it all under his loving care.

Alois will be lovingly remembered by his wife Marie and his children Tomas (Karina) Kunc, Klara (Rodney) Van Straten and Robyn (David) Martel, grandchildren Emma and Josephina Kunc, Lukas, Liam, Jenna, and Milan Van Straten, and Charlotte, Victoria, and Audrey Martel; sister Marie(Jiri) and brother Lada, nephews and numerous relatives in the Czech Republic.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Alto Reste Cemetery, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium