Sterling Kuntz Obituary, Death – Sterling P. Kuntz, 44, of Moorhead, MN, died unexpectedly in his home on Friday, July 3, 2020. Sterling Kuntz, nicknamed “Sterlz” by many, was born on August 1, 1975, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Larry and Amy (Schall) Kuntz. The family relocated to Moorhead in 1978. Sterling graduated from Moorhead High School in 1993 and moved on to NDSCS, where he earned a degree in graphic arts. Following college, he stayed in Arizona for a brief time before returning to Moorhead.
Sterling married Jessica Olson on October 18, 2002, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead. He began his career as an estimator and purchasing agent for Richman’s Printing & Knights Printing in Fargo, and afterwards for CMC in West Fargo, ND. He was currently engaged as the Bird Seed Sales Manager for SunOpta Sunflower in Moorhead.
Anyone who encountered Sterling will remember his huge smile, easygoing disposition, and, of course, his booming voice and thundering laugh (especially if he was holding a Coors light). Sterling’s contributions to the world went much deeper than his personality. Sterling accepted people as they were and was content, faithful, loving, and supportive. He spread joy wherever he went and had the ability to fill people with it. People simply felt better after being in his presence. These characteristics, as well as many others, would be evident throughout his life, which was filled with family and friends, church, hockey, soccer, baseball, broomball, and many late night bonfires at the lake.
He enjoyed traveling as well, and he took memorable excursions to Amsterdam with friends, as well as to New York and Jamaica with Jessica. Sterling and his sister Melissa visited New Orleans in 2010 for a fun-filled weekend of southern comfort and the Super Bowl XLIV (every football fan’s fantasy). They took family travels to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Yellowstone National Park, Duluth, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Jessica, Connor, and Carson. He participated in a broomball league and looked forward to the Moorhead Alumni Hockey Tournament. Every fall, he prepared his fantasy football squad and obsessively followed the Minnesota Vikings and Wild. “Sporty” (as his father used to call him) and his father had many hobbies, especially sports, and made multiple journeys on party buses to see games. He always looked forward to his mother bringing him a birthday cake to commemorate his birthday, which they had done for 44 years. To say Sterling was involved and enjoyed life would be an understatement, but his greatest love was his family.
Sterling went above and beyond in all he accomplished, but there was no limit when it came to his family. For years, he trained his children in hockey and baseball, and when soccer came around, he not only taught himself the rules, but he also became the coach. During the summer months, he spent his free time at the lake with his family, pulling his kids on the tube for hours on end, fishing with his family, and laughing with everyone around him. His family will recall the calm comfort he provided during quiet moments. His peace, love, and energy were palpable at those times, and he will be greatly missed.
Sterling was a loving husband, father, son, and friend to all. Everyone will miss his infectious laugh and zeal for life. His wife Jessica and their two kids, Connor and Carson, survive him, as do his parents, Larry and Amy Kuntz of Moorhead and his sister, Melissa Kuntz (Greg Rohde) of Duluth, MN. His godmother, Bernice Wickenheiser of Moorhead, MN, also survives. Victor and Sally Schall, as well as Jacob and Christine Kuntz, were his grandparents.