Steve Kundrat

Steve Kundrat, 93, of Sun City, Hilton Head passed away on September 7, 2017 at Colleton Medical Center of pneumonia. He was born on February 22, 1924 in Bajerovce, Slovakia, and emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of 6, settling in Lorain, Ohio. He served his country during World War II, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was assigned to the Headquarters and Service Company of the Twenty-Fifth Marines. There, he was trained as a field telephone technician, and fought on various islands in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for action on Saipan and Tinian. After leaving the service, he enrolled at The Ohio State University, became a member of the Alpha Rho Chi fraternity, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. Soon after, he met the love of his life, Ann, and they married in Sacramento, CA. They resettled in Mansfield, Ohio, and he began his career at Marr, Knapp, and Crawfis Architects. After retiring, he and Ann relocated to Hilton Head Plantation in 1985, and then to Sun City in 2003. Afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, he spent his final years at NHC Bluffton, Brookdale Hilton Head, and Veteran’s Victory House in Walterboro.

Steve was a remarkable and talented man. He had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. He won a jury award from the Fine Arts Guild on Mansfield for an oil painting, and he also taught ceramics classes for the Guild; he did cross-stitching for several years; he was an excellent wood carver, decorating the house with intricate birds, skates, and carousel horses; he grew delicious vegetables in his garden plot on Hilton Head Plantation and loved being a member of the Farmers Club. He enjoyed volunteering as a poll manager at HHP Plantation House. He put his architectural skills to work for the Beaufort County school district, local architects, and plantation design review boards. He also took pride in servicing the Hallmark Card departments in local Walgreens stores. He and Ann attended and supported Methodist churches, most recently Church of the Palms in Okatie. Perhaps most importantly, Steve was a pleasure to be around—he loved to make people laugh with his recent joke discoveries. He was genuinely likeable.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sarah Ann, daughter Lisa Ann Carlyle, father John, mother Zuzana, brothers George and John, and sister Mary Huber. Survivors include son John, granddaughter Sarah Graham, grandsons Richard and Robert Carlyle, son-in-law Ronald Carlyle, great grandchildren Chynna Victory, Kylene and Lisa Graham, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

There will be a memorial service at Church of the Palms, 1425 Okatie Highway, on Friday, September 22, at 10:00 AM, followed by the 1:00 PM interment at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary St.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800 Miami, FL 33131, or the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.