Donald M.D.

Dr. Donald W. Kundel MD, 79 of Duluth died tragically on Friday, September 21, 2012 in Laramie, WY. Don was born January 5, 1933 in Minden, Iowa to Ray and Pearl (Ivers) Kundel. He graduated from Minden High School, premed at the University of Nebraska, Omaha and the University of Iowa Medical School, moving to Duluth in 1964. Don served in the Army stateside during the Vietnam War and also during Operation Desert Storm. He was a pathologist at St. Luke's and in 1986 became the St. Louis County Medical Examiner, which he held until 2000 when he became a Deputy Medical Examiner. He also taught anatomy lab at UMD's Medical School and Don was currently working on cancer research with Terry Hallenkant, also at UMD. Don married Kathleen Smrekar on October 27, 1979.
Don was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary and the AMA. He loved playing bridge on Tuesday night at Northland; he was an avid outdoorsman; a member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited; avid Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays competitor and he had a love for flying.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Pearl; son Geoffrey; brother, Robert and his sister, Lavonne Olson.
Don is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son, Donald W. Kundel II; daughter, Katherine Dunstan (Ryan) Durand; son, Eric (Joan) Kundel and his daughter, Julie (Dave) Brenny; grandchildren, Joseph (Casey) Brenny and Chris Brenny; great grandchildren, Kali Allison and Martin James; siblings, Dr. David (Margi), Dorothy (Roger) Olson, Carolyn Kundel, Dr. Ray (Maria), Dr. Richard and Bonnie Boltz.

Visitation will begin at 10am with services at 11am Wednesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4th St. Duluth. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Pheasants Forever (Don Kundel Fund), 1783 Buerkle Circle, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Arrangements by the Dougherty Funeral Home, (218) 727-3555.