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Kathryn Kunze named Zonta Woman of the Year

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Kathryn Kunze, left, holds an etched crystal vase presented by Zonta President Eileen Budnick, right, who also gave her yellow roses to honor her as the 55th Annual Zonta Club of Alpena Woman of the Year on Wednesday evening at the APlex in Alpena.

ALPENA — To be selected as Zonta Club of Alpena’s Woman of the Year, you must not be a member of Zonta Club, you must go above and beyond in volunteering in your community, and you must be dedicated to selflessly working for others.

Those qualifications and much more describe this year’s Woman of the Year, Kathryn Kunze.

At the 55th annual banquet held Wednesday at the APlex, Kunze was honored by Zonta members, past honorees, community members and nearly 50 of her family and friends who surprised her by coming out after her name was announced, and lining up to hug and congratulate her.

In the invocation, the Rev. Karen Thompson thanked God for Kunze.

“We are grateful for her kindness, her energy, and her efforts for excellence in all that she does,” Thompson prayed. “We are also so grateful for her caring and compassion, and her steadfast dedication to children, to the arts, and to the lonely and less fortunate in our city, all demonstrating her servant’s heart.”

Last year’s banquet was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year’s event chair Laura Lancewicz said Kunze was originally supposed to be honored in 2020, but friends and family kept the secret of her nomination for an entire year.

“We’re honoring a woman who has gone above and beyond in her volunteerism and all that she does for the community,” Lancewicz said. “Most women like Kathryn are involved in several different organizations, and this is just acknowledging what they do so silently that people don’t realize.”

Lancewicz said a committee of eight Zonta members read through all the nominations and selected the most deserving woman.

In the 50 pages of nominations for Kunze, it was evident that she deserved the award, organizers said.

“They told us the impact that she had on Alpena covers so many aspects of life here,” said Pamela Richardson, who emceed the event with Natalie Nadeau. “She has enriched the arts, music, and theater. Her love of the written word led to her volunteering at the library and helping students get involved. Her faith is shown in the many different ways she ministers at Trinity (Episcopal) Church, that benefits the whole community. She also spends time cooking and serving at Sunday Supper. She also has been the chairperson for the Victorian Tea for over 20 years. Amazing. And that’s just a small paragraph of 50 pages that we got.”

Zonta Club President Eileen Budnick presented Kunze with an etched crystal vase and yellow roses before Kunze took to the microphone.

She was amazed to see so many friends and family, some who came from Chicago and from downstate to surprise her, including her two great-granddaughters.

Prior to the announcement, attendees were asked to stand up if they fit into various categories, and then sit down if the next category did not apply to them. Slowly, fewer and fewer women were left standing, until there was only one.

“When I was left standing, I thought, ‘I’m not the Woman of the Year,'” she said. “I’m only a representative, really, of all of you. Because you are all Women of the Year. I truly believe that.”

She thanked her family, and especially her husband Lewis Kunze.

“I may have the ideas and the creativity, but, when I want something done, I say, ‘Lew…,'” she said. “And he does it. Right ladies? (Applause) So, thank you, Lew.”

She thanked her parents, who raised eight children.

“We learned to give, and to share, and to be of service,” Kunze said. “And we lived our faith. And I hope I do that every day. Thank you so much.”

Following a catered buffet dinner and the award presentation, guest speaker Rose Nowak of Better Living Massage Center and Spa talked about “Becoming the Queen of Your Own Heart.”

“You must believe in who you are,” Nowak said. “You have to grow into this role. Becoming a queen takes practice and patience. It doesn’t happen overnight. It is a constant work in progress … It’s an evolution of maturity, confidence and responsibility.”

The speech aligned with the theme of the banquet, which was “Queen of Hearts.”

“Kathryn is one of those selfless individuals that steps up without wanting the acknowledgment of what she has done,” Lancewicz said in a press release.

Kunze was born in Alpena and has been married to her husband Lew for 25 years. They have three children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Some more kind words that the Zonta Club received described Kunze as selfless, an excellent educator, passionate and kind, generous in spirit, provides constant encouragement, inspires others, organized, creative and artistic, pours so much energy and time into each activity, and is the most dedicated volunteer.

“Her contributions to our faith community, the community of Alpena, and beyond, are immeasurable,” one of the nominations read.

Others said she always holds herself with professionalism, does not discriminate, has strong character, is committed to advancing beliefs, lives the lifestyle she advocates, is honest, follows through on tasks, is helpful and provides strong leadership, exhibits a positive attitude and is a role model.

“Kathryn works tirelessly for her family, friends, church and many other organizations,” Lancewicz noted.

Some of the organizations she has been involved with are: Chairperson of Trinity’s Victorian Tea for over 25 years, Thunder Bay Theatre Board, Friends of the Library Board, Gifted and Talented Program for Alpena Public Schools, Eucharistic Visitor, serves as the co-coordinator for Trinity funeral meals and receptions, Messy Church, Sunday Supper cook at Trinity, Association of Lifelong Learners Board, and the list goes on and on.

Door prizes were given out throughout the event, and Mary Linton won the raffle drawing for a Bolenz Jewelry $1,000 shopping spree.

The Zonta Club of Alpena is a member of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to enhance the status of women.

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