June Ann Kanz

All who knew June Kanz would agree that there was rarely a dull moment when she was around. Her sole purpose in life was to share laughter and love, and people were drawn to her like a magnet. Life truly began for June when she married her best friend with whom she welcomed the son who was truly the light of her life. She was quirky and endearing, never missing a beat when something didn't go as planned with just the right amount of grace and humor that made her truly unforgettable. Taken from her loved ones much too soon, June will be dearly missed and forever cherished by all who were blessed to feel her touch.It seems only fitting that June's story began during a time in our nation's history that was as colorful as she was. It was the Nifty Fifties when Elvis Presley took the music world by storm and James Dean made young girls swoon. Shows like I Love Lucy transformed the way we saw ourselves and Barbie dolls were among the latest fads. It was on June 22, 1954, that June was born to Lyle and Marion (Stellwagen) Blanchard in Winona, Minnesota. She was one of five children in her family, raised alongside her siblings, Sid, Geral, Diane, and Michael.Growing up in the Blanchard family was quite an event. June and her sister, Diane, used to thumb through the JC Penney Catalog, circling all the things they wanted. However, once someone circled an item, it was off limits to the others. June and Diane were thrilled when their little brother, Mike, was born as they were integral in caring for him. As a family they enjoyed vacations to Lake Carlos near Alexandria. June was a student at local schools, graduating from Lewiston High School in 1972. She continued her education at Rochester Vo-Tech, earning an early childhood development degree.Not to be forgotten during her formative years was June's introduction to the young man with whom she would write a love story that would span more than 40 years. His name was Steve Kanz, and they met in 1967 when he would take his pony to June's house and give her and her girl friends rides on the pony. He was only in seventh grade at the time, but he went home one day after riding his pony to June's and told his buddies, "That's the girl I'm going to marry!" June flirted with Steve at football games in junior high by "accidentally" bumping into him and quickly running away. With a desire to establish a life together, the sweethearts were married on December 2, 1978, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston.After an exciting honeymoon in Hawaii, the couple returned, and June cooked her first meal as a new wife - tuna casserole. It was something to remember as there were many more noodles than there was tuna. June enjoyed working at Aldrich Memorial Nursery School and Camera Art in Lewiston. As young marrieds she and Steve made it a tradition to attend midnight mass in Winona on Christmas Eve. After the service they parked by the lake and opened their presents to one another.When their son, Corey, was born, June couldn't have been happier, and she focused her attention on raising their son, no longer working outside of the home. She would often surprise Corey with gifts by asking him, "What's in my pocket?" Then he would search until he found the baseball cards she bought for him. June was Corey's biggest supporter in everything he did. When playing sports he could always hear her yell, "Use your muscles, Corey." The eternal jokester, June would also sternly ask him, "Can I tell you something?" only to tell him sweetly, "I love you!" Corey always cherished his mother's unconditional love and support. When Corey visited June for Mother's Day they went to Perkins to eat. June rarely ordered food because she was "watching her weight," but Corey ordered a strawberry shake. Imagine his surprise when he returned to the table from the bathroom only to find that his shake was all but gone!There was nothing that June Bug, as her husband affectionally named her, loved more than sharing her life with others. As a sun worshipper she loved being on the river with her family, and she also enjoyed golfing, bowling, and hiking. June handed out her favorite Snickers candy bars by telling people, "Show me your bellybutton!" She loved getting her quiet brother-in-law, Roger, to open up and talk. When Diane visited June in Duluth, June lit up and said, "Diane, is that you for real?" As someone who loved to shop, she was known for having Steve drop her off at Kmart and not return to get her for an hour. June would always surprise Steve & Corey with gifts.. June found such joy in making others smile. It was not uncommon for her to tell the clerk in the checkout line, "You need a raise," just to see them smile. She was spiritual and loved watching Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. It was a highlight when she got to meet him in Los Angeles on one occasion.One of the things that June was best known for was her quick wit. One such example was a time that she and Steve were driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Duluth. A police officer pulled up alongside them, rolled down his window, and said, "One of us is going the wrong way!" Quick as a whip June replied, "It's not us, is it?" The officer nearly cried from laughing so hard!As someone who struggled with various health issues throughout her life, June spent the past five years living at the Traumatic Brain Injury Residential in Duluth, spreading her warmth and light.Through the life of June Kanz we are reminded that each new day is a gift to spend with those we love, and that nothing should be taken for granted. Her laughter and zest for life were contagious, and her love for all people was unmatched. June lived to be a wife and mother, and her husband and son will be forever grateful for having been cared for by such an extraordinary woman. Life will never be the same without June here, but the lives of countless others will be forever changed because of her love.June A. Kanz, of Duluth and formerly of Lewiston, died Thursday, October 24th at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. June's family includes her husband, Steve; son, Corey and his wife Nicole; grandson, Alexander; siblings, Sid (Joyce) Blanchard of Mound, Geral Blanchard of Des Moines, IA, Diane (Roger) Rislow of Lewiston, and Michael (Chris) Blanchard of Prior Lake; mother-in-law, Betty Kanz of Lewiston; and several brothers and sisters-in-law. June was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law, Bob Kanz; and niece, Katie Kanz. A Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Lewiston with the Reverend Timothy Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 5-8 p.m. Monday and one hour before services Tuesday. Please share a memory of 'June bug' at her on-line guestbook and view her Tribute Video when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral Service of Lewiston is assisting the family with arrangements. Pallbearers: Bobby Kanz, Benjamin Kanz, Paul Fritzam, Christopher Blanchard, Jacob Ruhland, Brandon Rislow
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/436736