RON AND ROSE KUNER
This year, we are privileged to honor not one, but two
of our members with the 2011 Summit County Farm Bureau
Distinguished Service Award.
Akron natives Ron and Rose Kuner were born just a year apart into two very different homes and families. Rose grew up in a large family residing in one of Akron’s famed rubber company neighborhoods, while Ron’s family was a bit smaller – just three boys – and lived in Akron until a sunnier climate drew them south when he was just seven.
The giant rubber band that is the rubber capital of the world snapped the Kuner family back to Akron seven years later. Another seven years passed before our honorees, then both Akron University students, met by chance at the old Waterloo Drive-In – then a familiar Akron U hangout – when Ron noticed Rose in a car full of co-eds.
This led to a conversation, which led to a date a week later, and then to a wedding in 1963… which ultimately turned into 48 years (and counting!) of wedded bliss.
It wasn’t always “Rosy” – well, maybe it was, you’ll have to ask him – for while he certainly worked hard to hone his craft in the publishing business with the Akron Beacon Journal, she just as certainly earned her stripes tending to mending as a registered nurse at Akron City Hospital and in private practice.
Together they raised their children, Colleen and Brian. (Brian is now Akron Children’s Hospital’s Director of Infrastructure, while Colleen married JW McVicker before producing granddaughters Brianna, Michaela, Landry and Aislynn).
Ron’s parents purchased an orchard of about 10 acres in 1954 from his mother’s parents, the Geigs. This parcel was originally was part of a 240 acre farm purchased by his mother’s grandparents in 1928.
The front orchard of about five acres was planted in 1944, and included standard-size apple trees, and some peach, cherry plum and pear trees. When the peach and pear trees didn’t pan out, they were replaced by apple trees. The back orchard consisted of about five acres and was planted with standard-size apple trees in 1945 – with the Semi-Dwarf Orchard planted in 1958, and the Spur Orchard in 1965.
Today, the orchard boasts 27 varieties of apples and three types of plums. It now spans 14 acres and includes about 1300 trees. The Geigs nurtured the place until Ron and Rose bought it from them in 1987, becoming the third generation to run the family farm.
He has been an avid fisherman and woodworker and enjoys reading in the evening. He also revived his passion for photography in the recent years, photographing the girls’ activities and church events at St. Francis de Sales, while keeping the politicians in the City of Green focused with community service dedicated to issues like farmland preservation.
She enjoys needlepoint, crochet and her monthly book club. She also lends her voice to the choir at St. Francis de Sales, volunteers at school, vacation bible school and church events, and takes time to serve the needy at two different Akron soup kitchens.
Now, as this honor involves the Summit County Farm Bureau and distinguished service by its members, the following is a very short list of this pair’s many contributions:
He has –
- Served the Summit County Farm Bureau as a Trustee since 2001
- Served as the Ag Ecology Chairman from 2001-2007
- Planned several successful Summit County excursions, including visits to The Wilds, Lake Park Farm, and Ohio wineries
- Attended several leadership and commodity conferences
- Photographed just about everything he’s attended in the last ten years
- Offered some of the longest, most detailed meeting and committee chair reports the Board has ever received
While she has –
- Been at his side offering firm but gentle guidance
- Served, with him, as co-delegates to the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting
- Volunteered countless hours at many Farm Bureau sponsored events, including the Summit County Fair, Museum clean-up crew, annual meetings, and the annual Farmer’s Share breakfast
- Attended the Ohio Farm Bureau cruise with him at her side – most of the time
- Tolerated him 🙂
Please join us in congratulating the Summit County Farm Bureau’s 2011 Distinguished Service Award Honorees:
RON AND ROSE KUNER