Kimberli Dene Kunkel, 54, of Tampa, FL passed away on Dec. 13, 2023, at Melech Hospice House in Tampa. She was born on Jan. 8, 1969, to Sandra Bevington and Randy Kunkel in Bluffton.
Kim had a huge personality. When she entered the room, the atmosphere shifted to accommodate her. As she used to say, “people like me”, and she wasn’t wrong! She was so funny — every topic was an opportunity to poke a little fun. Honestly, almost nothing was off limits, and then she’d laugh so big that she drew people in like a moth to a flame.
She also fancied herself as a loud, off-key singer of improvised songs. She would make them up on the spot and sing them at the top of her lungs, just to hear you laugh.
What she had the most of though, was love. Usually unconditional love, even though she admitted there were a few times she should have had some conditions in place.
She loved family and spent her life creating family-like environments with everyone she knew. Losing her only child, Tyler Noble, in 2012, reinforced the need for strong bonds in her life. She made a conscious decision to live her life in joy after he passed away.
Kim had the realization that she could decide her emotions and feelings, so her choice was to live in joy with the absolute faith that she’d one day be reunited with Tyler.
Kim started her professional life as a cosmetologist at her dad’s salon. The stories they would share about that time in their lives are hilarious. Imagine water fights across the stations, attempting to catch a flying bat upstairs or selling through yet another over ambitious order of liters.
After working behind the chair, she moved into salon consulting. Using her uncanny people-sense in conjunction with systems and guidelines she led many salon companies and service providers to prosperity.
The most life altering and educational occupation she ever had was as a cancer patient. In her words, “it was the biggest performance of my life.”
She said that the diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Ph+ on Dec. 14, 2019, made her a better person because it changed the way she loved and magnified the value of her days and her relationships. Kim never asked, “Why me?” during her illness, she only stated “Why not me?” Her tenacious fight to live lasted four years during which her faith never wavered.
Kim is survived by her parents, Sandra Bevington and Randy Kunkel, and her bonus mother Sharon Kunkel. Also, her brother Kevin Kunkel of Tampa, Fla., sister, Missy Huss of Bluffton, and granddaughter Nataley Noble of Port Richey, Fla., along with many other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton, and for one hour prior to the service. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with Tony Garton officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Kim’s memory to Friends Who Care Cancer Relief Foundation and can be directed to the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can share memories and online condolences with the family at
www.thomarich.com.