Thomas Kuna
Kane | Save
Thomas James Kuna, age 76, of Kane, IL passed away on Friday, August 9, 2024. He was born in Germany on January 9, 1948, to Hungarian-born parents Aladal and Madgeline Kuna. His family came to the United States and settled in Chicago, Illinois, when Thomas was a young child.
Thomas Kuna devoted his life to education. He received his BSFS from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service [SFS] in 1969. While at Georgetown, he was given the SFS Dean’s Extraordinary Citation for four years of service to Georgetown University and the School of Foreign Service. He continued with his education and received an MA from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies [SAIS] in Bologna, Italy in 1970 and Washington, D.C. in 1971.
He received his Secondary Education Certificate from the University of the District of Columbia in 6 Sciences; French; and Literature of Black Africa and the Black Diaspora entirely in French or translated into French in 1973. He received Smithsonian Institution Grants to Develop two Courses for Middle School Pupils and developed an Anthropology Reading Curriculum for Advanced Placement 8th Graders in 1976. He received an Illinois Secondary Education Certificate from Quincy University in the same 6 Social Sciences, French, and almost also in Spanish.
In his later years, the Spanish Literature interested him and he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying Spanish Literature in Spanish, from the 10th to the 20th Centuries from 1999 till 2004.
He was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1968 and 1969.
In 1993, he was given the Black Awareness Association and the NAACP (Quincy, IL, Branch) Joint Award for Years of Dedicated Service.
Since Thomas was 5 years old, he was trying to find the right strategy and tactics for a just and lasting world peace, with lawful freedom and prosperity for all. This passion led him to write and publish his book, “Peace Process in the Holy Land, World Peace and Justice, and the Future Architecture of the Universe.” He was very proud of his work in this area.
He worked over 30 years as a public school teacher and substitute teacher in Washington D.C. and in Illinois. He also worked in many blue and white collar industry jobs including manufacturing, restaurant, construction, translating, surveying, and agriculture.
In 2010, Thomas ran for the U.S. Senate in the Illinois Republican Primary.
From 2011 till the present, Thomas was the Founder/President of the "St. Marcellus House of Hospitality for Homeless Veterans and Others", and Resident Director of its "Sts. Isidore and Wife, Maria, Farmers Cottage", both in the Catholic Worker Charism Ministry in Kane, Illinois. In his youth, Thomas liked to go canoeing, sailing, rowing and hiking. In his later years he loved to ride his bike.
Thomas is survived by his sister Madgeline (Maggie) Ambrose of North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation rites were accorded and a funeral mass was held on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Holy Ghost Church in Jerseyville, Illinois, with Father Martin Smith officiating. Burial was at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville, Illinois.
Crawford Funeral Home
