KUNZ, James Louis

1853 - 1936  (82 years)

• Name	KUNZ, James Louis
  Nickname	Louis
  Birth	Jul 1853	Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States
  	brewer
  	Address: Kunz and Bleser Brewery
  	Past Fades With Razing of Brewery Manitowoc-A part of the old, old past is fast disappearing from the scene of Manitowoc these days with the razing of the old brewery plant at the corner of Ninth and Marshall streets. Demolition work is being done by the Madison Moving and Wrecking Co. of Madison and Oshkosh. Part of the old structure is remains of the first brewery at Manitowoc owned by Charles Hottelmann who operated the initial plant on that site. The old brewery plant is estimated to be well over 100 years old. It wasn't long until the Kunz family came along from Germany to provide Manitowoc and the area with fine beer. Gottfried and H. George Kunz came from near Wertonburg (sic), Germany, where the art of brewing ran through family veins. H. George Kunz bought out the operation in 1865 and operated the plant until his death in 1872. Working with H.G. were Louis Kunz, his half-brother and John Schreihart, who had also been schooled, by experience, in the beer-making trade. After H.G. died Louis Kunz went to work for Gottfried Kunz. Bought out Brewery Louis Kunz and John Schreihart later conducted the large brewery on Washington Street here. Louis Kunz and B. Bleser teamed up and bought out the brewery under the name of Kunz, Bleser and Co., Brewers in 1885 and brewed the finest of Dortmuder, Hoffbrau and Extra Pale Beer. The partnership ran up to about 1918. And then the country went dry. Rahr, Schreihart, and Kunz formed the Manitowoc Brewers Co., and bottled near beer and soda. The name was changed again-this time to Manitowoc Products Co.- and the firm went into ice cream, cheese and butter business at the Washington Street plant. Moved to Sheboygan With the legal return of beer in 1933, Kingsbury Brewery came into being. With Louis Kunz president of the company up to his death in 1936, the brewery brewed and bottled Kingsbury Pale and other fine beers. The brewery here was closed about 10 or 12 years ago and operations were moved to the Sheboygan plant. Erwin C. Kunz, son of Louis Kunz, remained on the board of directors of Kingsbury Brewing Co., up to several years ago. The G. Heilman Brewing Co. of LaCrosse merged with Kingsbury Breweries in 1862. Razing operations were started several weeks ago. Herald-Times-Reporter Wed, Apr 24, 1963 ·Page 14
  Death	9 Mar 1936
  	Brewery Head at Manitowoc Passes, Was 81 Louis Kunz, Last of Manitowoc's Pioneer Brewers, Succumbs Manitowoc - Louis Kunz, 81, president of Kingsbury Breweries Co., and last of the early-day brewers and maltsters of Manitowoc died last night. He had been in failing health for several weeks. Until two weeks ago, however, Mr.. Kunz was able to meet his friends and made daily visits to the Elks club, of which he was one of the oldest members. A general breakdown of his health has confined him to his home 815 Marshall street, for several days. Funeral Thursday Funeral Services will be held from the home Thursday at 2 p.m. Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery. Mr.. Kunz continued active in the brewing business for more than half a century. He first came to this city in 1880 and five years later embarked in partnership with the late Daniel B. Bleser in the brewing business here. In the early days of his brewery activities here Mr.. Kunz was brewmaster and made special trips to Germany to study the proper brewing of ingredients going into the manufacture of beer. The deceased was born near Stuttgart, Germany in 1854, the son of Johann and Elizabeth Kunz. HIs father was the owner of a brewery in Germany. In 1872, accompanied by a friend, Mr.. Kunz left Germany for America. He was employed for a time at Milwaukee and coming to Manitowoc, was employed, together with John Schreihart, at the Godfrey Kunz brewery at Branch. To Manty in 1880 In 1880 Mr.. Kunz came to this city and in the following year associated himself with Mr.. Schreihart. In 1885 he formed a partnership with Daniel B. Bleser and the Kunz-Bleser company was organized. The firm leased the Schrelhart brewery, which the company operated until 1890. Purchase of the Groch and Seidel brewery followed. This plant located at Marshall and South Ninth St.., was remodeled and operated until 1905. It was torn down and replaced with a modern brick and concrete plant on the same site.
  Burial	13 Mar 1936	Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States
  	Address: Evergreen Cemetery
  Person ID	I7557	Jindra and Chaloupka Family Trees
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2024

  
  

  Father	Living
  Mother	Living
  Family ID	F2624	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Father	Living
  Family ID	F2629	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	KUNZ, Mary,   b. 26 Mar 1856, Cleveland, Ohio, United States d. Jan 1925, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	28 Nov 1876	Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States
  Children	1. KUNZ, George Charles,   b. 28 Oct 1877, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States d. 23 Nov 1935, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States (Age 58 years)   2. KUNZ, Linda,   b. Abt 1883   d. 4 Jan 1961, Wilmette, Cook, Illinois, United States (Age 78 years)   3. KUNZ, Erwin C.,   b. 3 Feb 1888, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States d. 13 Dec 1960, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States (Age 72 years)
  Family ID	F2621	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	18 Aug 2024