W3WM 1922 - 2020

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Director 2001 - 2004 Arthur F. 'Art' Kunst Osceola, SD Chicago, IL Du Bois, PA Bridgeville, PA QCWA # 4595 Chapter(s) 6, 32 and 45

First Call: W9FUY in 1939       Other Call(s): W3LNE

Arthur Frederick Kunst, Sr, 98, formerly of DuBois, PA, passed away peacefully at his home in Bridgeville, PA on October 4, 2020.

Born September 1, 1922 on a farm in Osceola, South Dakota, he was the oldest of four sons to the late William and Amelia Kunst. He was predeceased by his brothers William, Arnold and Ronald, sister-in-law Lorraine Kunst, and great grandson Whit Trude. He was married for 67½ years to Sylbia Shirley Kunst who died in 2015.

In 1924 his family moved to the South Side of Chicago where Art began his working life at the age of 12 assisting his father at his filling station. Art was the 1940 valedictorian of his high school graduating class from Luther Institute in Chicago. He attended college at Northwestern University and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation from Northwestern, he began his professional career at Western Electric Company in Chicago. He later furthered his education at the Illinois Institute of Technology obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering and a Master's Degree in Business and Engineering Administration.

In 1942, while attending Northwestern University, Art enlisted in the US Navy and continuously served his country in an active and reserve capacity until retiring as a Naval Captain in 1977. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater.

Art and Sylbia moved their family to DuBois, PA in 1955 where they raised their four children who survive: Sylbia Kunst and husband Frank Katrin, Bridgeville, PA; Sharon Trude, DuBois, PA; Arthur Kunst, Jr. and wife Cynthia, Carlisle, PA; and Donald Kunst and wife Terry, Lykens, PA; along with six grandsons: Will Trude, Ryan Trude, Michael Kunst, Sean Kunst, Garrison Kunst, and Steven Kunst, and a great grand-daughter, Baley Trude.

Art was employed in DuBois at Jeffers Electronics as an engineering manager. His professional career next took him to Airco Speer Carbon Company in St. Marys, PA where he worked as a professional engineer rising to the role of Assistant to the President.

In 1988, at the age of 66, Art joined PENNTAP - PA Technical Assistance Program as a senior technical specialist at University Park, State College, PA. For seven years he played a significant role in providing services on a statewide basis on economic development and job retention in PA.

While living in DuBois, Art was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church serving on various church committees and in leadership roles. His faith was a cornerstone of the values and ideals that Art and Sylbia imparted to their children.

Art had a life-long hobby with amateur ham radio which he began at an early age allowing him to talk with people all over the world. He served as the National Director of the Quarter Century Wireless Association and was recognized at a national hamfest as one of the longest continuing amateur radio operators in the country.

Art began biking and running in his 50's and competed in many running races until age 85. Upon retirement, Art and Sylbia traveled to more than 30 countries which enhanced his love of geography and history. They also enjoyed being Florida snowbirds.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Beinhauer Funeral Home located at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA. All guests will be required to wear a mask or facial covering and our staff will monitor attendance to ensure gathering restrictions for everyone's safety. A private memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 8 at 11:00 AM at the Beinhauer Funeral Home with private interment following the service at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, PA with full military honors. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Scholarship Fund at Christ Lutheran Church at 875 Sunflower Drive, DuBois, PA 15801. Please add or view tributes at www.beinhauer.com

Published in The Courier Express from Oct. 5 to Oct. 6, 2020.

I am a long time member with QCWA # 4595. I have held a Ham license continuously since 1939 and have an Extra Class License. My home chapter is Chapter 6 in Pittsburg, PA. I am also a member of several chapters in Florda where I am winter resident. My principle university degree of several is in Electronics. My training and lifetime work experience has been with electrical product manufacture in a variety of assignments. I am also a registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvannia. I have lengthy military experience with the US Navy where I retired as a Naval Captain.

Dateline: December 7, 1941 A long time ago on December 07th 1941, I was operating 75M AM phone in Chicago Illinois, My call sign was W9FUY with Class A endorsement. (Class A, B, and C licenses only). My xmtr was a popular rack and panel construction about five feet tall with a final operating with a TAYLOR T-55 running abt 75 watts into a long wire antenna. I was home from Northwestern U where I was an EE engineering student, to enjoy Mom's Sunday home cooking. While waiting for the summons, I went to the Shack to check the 75M band activity, and maybe make a few QSOs. I was doing that when a few stations started broadcasting the announcement "Get off the air ---Get off the air. Pearl Harbor has been bombed!" What to do? As more and more Hams understood the msg, the band quickly became eerily silent. I left the Shack in a rush to tell my family and we huddled around our AM radio to get the full coverage. All of this activity is fully covered in my log which I still have. My next ham QSO about five years later to took place unofficially on 10mtr from the radio shack of my ship USS Arneb in Okinawa harbor. The amazing thing was that so many hams on other ships joined in! What set this off, was the announcement that hams in the US were allowed to get on-the-air. What an experience!!! Current call sign is W3WM - Art, and continuously licensed since 1939!

Interview with Art Kunst, W3WM at Dayton Hamvention 2015


Art Kuntz and Carole Perry - Past and Present QCWA Directors
QCWA booth at the 2017 Hamcation