BLANCHARDVILLE/NEW GLARUS - Roy Frederick Kundert, age 86 of New Glarus, formerly of Blanchardville, died on Tuesday evening, September 16, 2008 at the UW Hospital in Madison. He was born July 3, 1922 in Monroe to Fred & Ella (Rothenbuhler) Kundert. He attended the Blackford rural school in the Skinner Creek area in rural Monroe where he lived with his parents and brothers on the family farm. He learned his craft of making cheese at Skinner Creek Cheese Factory near his home as a young man, then Chapel Cheese Factory in northern Illinois, and Union Hill Cheese Factory in rural Juda. Roy was married on February 20, 1944 to Cleo Esther Bennehoff in Rock Grove, Illinois. Soon after taking over the Mud Branch Cheese Factory in rural Argyle he was drafted into the US Army in 1944 where he served 2 years in the Philippines where he was injured, and received a Purple Heart medal. After leaving the service Roy became the cheese maker at the Hay Hollow Cheese Factory in rural Blanchardville where he worked until his sons took over. He then continued working there until his retirement in 1990. Roy & Cleo enjoyed traveling all across the US and abroad. They spent 18 years wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona. Roy was a member of the York Memorial Lutheran Church in rural Blanchardville for most of his life, and recently became a member of the Blanchardville Lutheran Church. Roy worked and volunteered with many organizations dedicating much of his time to his community and friends and family, including the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Madison, Blanchardville Area Improvement Corporation, and the Historical Cheese Making Museum in Monroe. He was the youngest licensed Swiss cheese maker in Wisconsin, and received many cheese making awards for his excellence in cheese making. He was also a member of the Dobson-Johnson American Legion Post in Blanchardville for 63 years. He was president of the Foreign Type Cheese Makers Association and a director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association for many years, and was a past Blanchardville Village Board president. He was a member of the Lafayette County Board for 8 years. He served on the Hodan Center Board for 23 years, and was also a director on the Blanchardville Co-Op Oil Association. He was a director of the First National Bank of Blanchardville for many years. On any given day, he was looking for a good game of Euchre, golf or shuffle board.

Roy is survived by his wife, Cleo Kundert of New Glarus; four children, Richard (Candy) Kundert of Blanchardville, Duane (Beth) Kundert of Blanchardville, Anne Kundert of Seattle, Washington, and Marla (Ken) McKenzie of Stevens Point; two brothers, Delbert (Gudrun) Kundert and Arlie (Eldora) Kundert, both of Monroe; eight grandchildren, Mathew (Becky) Kundert of Poynette, Ross (Erica) Kundert of Mount Horeb, Adam (Nikki) Kundert of Blanchardville, Karianne (Marlyn) Kundert-Wahl of Monticello, Karla (Jeff) Berzowski of Neenah, Derek McKenzie of Scottsdale, Arizona, Dana McKenzie of Verona and Alicia McKenzie of Milwaukee; and five great-grandchildren, Alex Michael, Ty Adam, Kenadi Cleo, Heidi and Matthew. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church in Blanchardville. Rev. Mark Gruner, assisted by intern Dave Nelsestuen, of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church from 2 until 7 p.m., and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. In Lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The Saether Funeral Home from Blanchardville is assisting the family. 608-523-4247