Arthur Wunsch, 98, of White Cloud passed away at home on February 10, 2016. Mr. Wunsch, the son of Louis and Regina Wunsch, was born on September 9, 1917 in Detroit, the city where he was raised. He was a 1935 graduate of Detroit Pershing High School. Mr. Wunsch was preceded in death by Virginia Wunsch, his wife of 63 years, in 2014. Mr. Wunsch served in the U.S. Army - 1st Armored Division from 1940-1945 in Italy and North Africa. He returned to Detroit, earning a BA in instrumental music from Wayne State University. In 1950, Mr. Wunsch accepted a school band director position in Newaygo County, serving students in White Cloud, Newaygo and Croton. During this time Mr. Wunsch met fellow teacher Virginia Lou Fish, whom he married in 1951. The Wunsch couple became a family on July 4, 1956 when their daughter Kathryn Lou was born, and celebrated again with the birth of their son, James Daniel on October 9, 1959. Mr. Wunsch continued his career in education, serving White Cloud and North Muskegon (1957-1959) Public Schools. He also furthered his formal education, earning a Masters degree in school administration from the University of Michigan. Before retiring in 1983, Mr. Wunsch served as a music and science teacher, high school principal and high school counselor. Music was a guiding light that Mr. Wunsch followed through life, having come by it honestly from his father, a gifted composer, pianist and professional singer. Mr. Wunsch began drumming professionally as a youth in Detroit, and maintained his playing as a parallel career. He was a backing musician in United Service Organizations (USO) shows, played on Milwaukee Clipper voyages and performed with the West Shore Symphony. His longest continuous drum work occurred with his good friends, Gene Englerth and Joe Lajoye in their own Pacific Trio from 1975-2000. Mr. Wunsch was also a music competition adjudicator and gave private drum lessons. Music was a second language for Mr. Wunsch, a universal language spoken to anyone from young public school students, to well-known Michigan jazz luminaries, to his immediate family and close friends. After retirement, Mr. Wunsch served the Juvenile Division of Newaygo County Probate Court as an in-home detention worker to delinquent youth. He then joined this region's Michigan Foster Care Review Board, an entity that performs an oversight function in selected court adjudicated child welfare cases. Mr. Wunsch was appointed to the Newaygo County Community Mental Health board in 1986, a position he held until 2010. He was especially gratified to see the creation of the Empowerment Network during his tenure, and was subsequently given the Arthur Wunsch Advocacy Award, an annual award from Newaygo County Community Mental Health to recognize persons in Newaygo County dedicated to providing advocacy on behalf of those with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. Mr. Wunsch's life and career pursuits were devoted directly or indirectly to his family. He loved and admired his wife and children and cherished his granddaughters. Arthur Wunsch is survived by his daughter Kathy (Craig) Broome of White Cloud; his son Jim (Anne) Wunsch of Saugatuck; granddaughter Tegan Broome of White Cloud and granddaughter Lydia (David) Van Wormer of New York, New York. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Arthur Wunsch will be held at the United Methodist Church in White Cloud on March 11, 2016 at 11:00. Visitation begins at 10:00. Please consider memorial contributions to the White Cloud Public Schools music program or the Empowerment Network.

Visitation

Friday, March 11, 2016 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

White Cloud United Methodist Church 1125 Newell Street White Cloud, MI 49349

Friday, March 11, 2016 11:00 AM

White Cloud United Methodist Church 1125 Newell Street White Cloud, MI 49349