James T. Kunz Sr., 78, of Gibsonia died Sunday morning at UPMC Passavant Hospital, McCandless Township.

Born in Pittsburgh, March 5, 1928, he was the son of Alphonse and Gertrude Becker Kunz.

He was an operating engineer for Union Local 66 in Pittsburgh and was a 53-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66 of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Kunz was a member of St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church in Mars. He also belonged to the John E. Mair Lodge 729, F&AM, the Syria Shrine and the Knights Templar.

He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a former member of the Mars VFW Post 7505.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Straub Kunz, whom he married Aug. 29, 1953; two sons, James T. Kunz Jr. (Opal) of Pittsburgh and Charles A. Kunz (Pauline) of Kewenee, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Gary (Lisa A.) Uziel of Mars and Mrs. John (Monica M.) Bradel of Rochester; a sister, Mrs. David (Joanne) Moore of Missouri; and two brothers, Vincent Kunz of Butler and Francis Kunz (Rita Mae) of Cranberry Township. Nine grandchildren and a great-grandson also survive.

<B>KUNZ </B>— Friends of James T. Kunz, who died Sunday, July 2, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>MCDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, Mars, with the Rev. Charles Bober officiating. Burial will be at the Mars Cemetery, Adams Township.