Paul M. Kunst, 87, of Indiana, formerly of Mt. Lebanon, passed away Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at St. Andrew’s Village.
The son of two German immigrants, Peter and Theresa (Krauth) Kunst, Paul was born April 20, 1929, in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, VA in 1948.
His passion and life’s work was baking. From the age of eight he worked for his father, learning the art and trade of baking. Paul attended the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and was certified as a Master Cake Decorator and Fine Candy Maker. After his father’s death, he and his sister Ruth operated Kunst Bakery in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh until their retirement in 2002. For over 50 years, Kunst Bakery was an institution in the university and medical communities of Oakland.
Active in local civic organizations, he served as the president of the Lions Club of Oakland. Paul was a member of St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church, Teutonia Mannerchor Club, and the Associated Retail Bakers of America. He served as a director of the Retail Master Bakers Association of Western Pennsylvania. Paul belonged to the Masonic Lodge Pittsburgh, Lodge 45 F & A.M., and on Nov. 1, 1951 he became a 32° Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Valley of Pittsburgh.
A lover of music and theater, he was blessed with a fine singing voice and a skill for social dancing. Friends and family enjoyed his quirky sense of humor, as well as his cheerful attitude, and will dearly miss his generous and humble spirit.
Surviving are two daughters: Lisa Kunst Vavro (Robert); Gretchen Barbor (John); his grandchildren: Peter and Jay Barbor; his sister, Ruth LaVallee; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Elsie Warhol Kunst; and his sister, Ann Margaret (Pegge) Kunst Plaehn.
Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Jefferson Memorial Chapel, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, immediately followed by a funeral service. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests memorial contributions be made to VNA/Hospice, 850 Hospital Road, Suite 3000, Indiana, PA 15701.
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