William "Bill" Trivette Kuenzel

Mr. William “Bill” Trivette Kuenzel, age 73 of Millers Creek, passed away Monday, September 9, 2019, at Wake Forest Baptist-Wilkes Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday September 14, 2019, at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Julius Blevins officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Friday evening at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home and also immediately following the Memorial Service in the Chapel.

Bill was born December 6, 1945, in Miami, FL, to William Robert Kuenzel and Eleanor Trivette Kuenzel. He grew up in Wilkes County with his grandparents DT and Minnie Trivette and farmed their family land for many years. After graduating from Wilkes Central High School and Western Carolina University, where he met his wife Susan in the library, he earned a Master’s degree from Appalachian State University. He was retired from Wilkes County Schools where he served as a librarian at Boomer-Ferguson Elementary School and as a technology educator at schools across the county.

He was an Eagle Scout, served in the Army and Reserves, and enjoyed beekeeping as a hobby. He was a talented storyteller and shared stories and apples as Johnny Appleseed at early Apple Festivals and at various schools in the county. Bill was a polio survivor, which led to neuropathy and mobility issues late in life.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill is survived by his wife Susan Nixon Kuenzel of the home; a daughter Codie Kuenzel of Lowesville; a son William “Will” Kuenzel and wife Amy of Charleston, SC; two grandchildren, Jenna Kuenzel and Lana Kuenzel; and a sister Diane Kuenzel Clark and husband Robert of Morganton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Bee Cause, which provides youth with opportunities to understand, engage, and learn from honeybees through instructional materials for teachers and observation hives in schools. Donations received will directly benefit the schools in Wilkes County.  Mail checks to The BeeCause, 129 Sparrow Drive, Isle of Palms, SC 29451 or make a donation through the website www.thebeecause.org or PayPal at info@thebeecause.org. Mark donations in memory of Bill Kuenzel.

Online condolences may be made at www.reinssturdivant.com

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