Beatrice Ann Kunkle

Beatrice Ann (Simerlink) Kunkle, age 87, of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. She was born on June 27, 1939, in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Andrew and Evelyn (Hamill) Simerlink.

After graduating from high school, Beatrice received a scholastic scholarship to attend Youngstown State University. It was there that she met the love of her life, Lawrence Kunkle. Within three years, the two were united in holy matrimony and went on to share sixty-six years of marriage together.

Beatrice worked at JCPenney for twenty-five years before retiring. While her career was an important part of her life, she will be remembered most for the love and generosity she poured into her family, friends, and neighbors.

Beatrice was an awesome mom and became everyone's favorite Aunt "Bea," not only to her family but also to the children in her neighborhood. She was an accomplished baker who made everything from scratch. Her grandchildren looked forward to tins of homemade cookies, while the neighborhood children enjoyed her homemade buckeye balls.

She loved games and was always ready for a little friendly competition. She was a card shark who enjoyed playing 99 with her neighbors, as well as dominoes, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and bingo. She also enjoyed watching reality television, particularly shows such as Dancing with the Stars. She and Lawrence shared a love of live theater and musicals and even held seasonal tickets to the Barn Theatre.

Travel was another great joy in Beatrice's life. She and Lawrence spent many years enjoying their timeshares in Naples, Florida, and Mazatlán, Mexico. She loved the beach and would spend the winter months in Florida. Hilton Head Island also held a special place in her heart, and she and Lawrence visited there for more than forty years.

Being a grandmother brought Beatrice tremendous joy. She delighted in creating special memories for her grandchildren, including elaborate Christmas scavenger hunts complete with rhyming clues and cash waiting at the end. Christmas was an especially magical time in her home. She decorated with seven Christmas trees, seventeen wreaths, and decorations in nearly every square inch of the house, earning it the affectionate family nickname "Christmas Wonderland."

For more than thirty-seven years, Beatrice and Lawrence called Lake Doster in Plainwell home. They loved spending time on the lake and taking their boat out with family and friends. Their famous cocktail cruises sometimes involved tying boats together to create a floating barge where everyone could gather, laugh, and enjoy one another's company.

Beatrice was known for being thrifty, but her generosity knew no bounds. She quietly supported numerous charities and gave generously to causes that were important to her. Her kindness and generosity will remain part of the legacy she leaves behind.

She was preceded in death by her son, Lawrence "Chip" Kunkle; her parents; and her siblings, Donald Simerlink and Joan Ferranti.

Her loving memory will be cherished by her husband, Lawrence Kunkle; her children, Kurt (Stephenie) Kunkle and Kay (Bruce) Weber; her grandchildren, Claire (Brian) Phillips, Benjamin (Emily) Weber, Kurt Kunkle Jr., and Walter (Catherine) Billsbrough; her great-grandchildren, Mason and Olivia Phillips; and many nieces and nephews.

In accordance with the family's wishes, public services will be held at the funeral home with a time for visiting on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with an hour of visiting beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Beatrice will be laid to rest next to her son at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak, Michigan, on a later date.

Beatrice will be remembered for her generous heart, her love of family, her infectious enthusiasm for life, and the countless memories she created-from Christmas Wonderland and homemade cookies to summer days on Lake Doster surrounded by the people she loved.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Beatrice's guestbook and/or share a memory with her family.

The Kunkle family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 120 South Woodhams Street, Plainwell, MI 49080. 269-685-5881.