Jon Kunkler, age 62, passed away on March 14, 2026, leaving behind a legacy built with his own two hands and a heart that touched the people he cared about.

Born on April 26, 1963, in Akron, Ohio, Jon was a Master Carpenter whose talents were nothing short of extraordinary. From delicate clocks crafted from exotic woods and intricate boxes with secret compartments, to furniture, barns, and bookcases, there was nothing Jon could not create from a piece of wood. No example better captures his skill and devotion than the kitchen cupboards he built in New York and transported to Ohio for his sister Nanette — they fit so perfectly it was as though they had always been there. Jon was happiest when he was in his shop, creating something with his hands, with his beloved German Shepherd, Ellie, by his side.

His talents extended well beyond woodworking. Jon had a gift for fixing things — mechanical, electrical, plumbing — if something was broken, Jon could make it right. He was equally at home behind a grill, where he turned cooking into its own kind of craft. Jon was a  huge fan of Rush and Deep Purple; Jon's love of music ran deep. In his younger years, he was known to outfit his Toyota pickup with the biggest speakers that could fit, heading to local Sound offs to see if his truck was louder than other participants — and loving every minute of it. He taught his nephew Steven to play chess and taught his sister to use power tools. He mentored, taught, and cared deeply for those he considered family and friends. It is impossible to capture Jon with mere words, he was larger than life, a hard worker, and so very loyal to those that he cared about.

Jon was preceded in death by his loving life companion, Stephanie Inguaggito, his father, Joseph Ed Kunkler; his grandparents, Frank and Louise Rarick; his aunt, Kay Cummings; his cousin, Joni Loudin; and his brother, Joel Kunkler. Survived by his mother, Nancy Kunkler; his stepmother, Brenda Kunkler; his sister, Nanette Folsom (Ed); nephews Eron Folsom (Colleen) and Steven Folsom (Amy); great-nephews TJ Haidet, Andrew Haidet, and Gavin Webster; great-niece Alaina Webster; uncles John Cummings and Albert Kunkler; cousins Kelly (Cummings) Johnson, Kim (Cummings) Robel, Kyle Cummings, Cindy Slusser, Gayle Slusser, Heather Ewell, Connor Cummings, and Carson Cummings; and dear friends Barbara Hallen, Desirée Anderson, and Charlie Thompson.

I would like to personally thank Barbara Hallen, Desiree’ Anderson and her husband, and Charlie Thompson, along with his parents for stepping up in most unimaginable ways to help my husband and myself deal with everything we had to do. We were strangers to them, they have now become family, and they cared deeply for Jon.

He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. His sister Nanette writes: "I will deeply miss my brother. I know that he is finally reunited with his loving life companion Stephanie and was greeted at the Rainbow Bridge with all of the dogs he cared for in his life."

The family asks that any memorial donations be sent to the Rochester Verona Animal Shelter or Lollypop Farms.