DEKALB — Werner Kurt “Kurtis” Kujnisch. Jr., 47, of DeKalb, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Dec. 2, 2018 in Rochelle, at the age of 47.

Kurt, son of Werner Kurt Kujnisch, Sr. and Ruth Ann (Enriquez) Kujnisch, was born Nov. 3, 1971, in Aurora. Kurt was a graduate of DeKalb High School (Class of 1990). After he moved to Rochelle, Kurt became a painter and was a well-loved member of his community, and will be especially missed by his best friend, Dan Pakenham.
Kurt was an accomplished at cross-country running and won many awards. He was a generous, good humored, kind individual who loved cooking, making home-made pasta and who was passionate about giving back. What started as an obligation became a 6-year long labor of love, serving breakfast at the VFW every Sunday. He was also an animal-lover and fur-daddy to over half a dozen Dachshunds and dozens of other rescue cats and dogs.
Kurt is survived by his father, Werner Kurt Kujnisch, Sr. of DeKalb; step-mother, Gala Kujnisch; sister, Tina (Kujnisch) Macksey (husband, David) of Chicago; step-sisters, Tina (Hoffman) Raymer (husband, Raymond) of Rockford, Denise (Hoffman) Clark (husband, Robert) of DeKalb, Dawn (Hoffman) Jeter (husband, Thomas); nieces, Samantha Macksey, Sabrina (Bella) Macksey, Abigail Raymer, Emily (Clark) Miner (husband, Robert), Ellyn Clark, Brittany(Phelps) Swartz (husband, Jerry), Brianna Phelps, Leeah Phelps; nephews, Leo Macksey, Eric Clark, Robert Boddy (wife, Alisen); numerous cousins, many of whom still reside in Aurora; and four Dachshunds (Zsa zsa, Chloe, Newman and Oliver).
Kurt was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Ann Kujnisch; step-brother, Anthony Hoffman; and significant other, Denise Smith (mother of Nikki).
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12 at Rochelle VFW Hall.
Condolences can be sent to the family at www.ungerhorner.com. The family would like to thank his Rochelle family for “never leaving the kitchen, until Kurt left the kitchen.”