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Lithia pitches in to aid one of its own

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By EMILIE PLANTS

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 1, 2009

LITHIA - Oscar Kunze has offered a helping hand to local residents for as long as anyone in this small community can remember.

After Kunze was diagnosed with a rare and debilitating disease 10 weeks ago, those who know and love him decided it was time to repay the favor. They are planning a fundraiser this month to benefit the 44-year-old husband and father of two.

"If you've ever met him, you'll never forget him," said Tia Shirley, 40, Lithia resident and friend to the Kunze family.

Caron Watkins, 42, a friend of Kunze's wife, Darla, describes Kunze as a boisterous, giving man who loves his family.

"Darla and Oscar both graduated from Plant City High School, and they have been actively involved with their kids in Pinecrest Little League and Pinecrest Pilots football and cheerleading. The Pinecrest community is a tight knit community, and we want to give back to their family," Watkins said.

Shirley and a number of others in the Lithia community are staging a fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 11 at Rick's Custom Meats, owned by Shirley and her husband. The shop is adjacent to Smokin' Joe's BBQ, owned by Shirley's brother-in-law, Joe Shirley, at 10252 County Road 39 S., Lithia.

The Bluegrass Parlor Band will entertain at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and there will be drawings for prizes donated by local businesses. Prizes up for grabs include a shotgun, a signature wildlife painting, plants, hair salon gift cards and more.

There will be a bake sale, and hot dog and barbecue meals ranging in price from $5 to $8 will be available for purchase from Rick's Custom Meats/Smokin' Joe's BBQ. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

A percentage of the proceeds for the day will go directly to the Kunze family, which includes the couple's children, Mariah, 13, and Brantley, 12. Kunze, who owned a T-shirt monogramming business before being hospitalized with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, also known as ADEM, was the sole provider for his family.

ADEM is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. What began as a common case of bronchitis has left Kunze barely able to speak and with long-term and short-term memory damage. Long-term, if not lifelong, care will be needed.

The lives that have been touched by his kind spirit are now rallying around the effort to help Kunze and his family.

"He would do something like this for any of us," said Stacey Walker, 44, of Lithia.

Walker, a close family friend, said the Kunze family befriended her family when they first moved to Lithia 13 years ago.

Walker said Kunze has always been there for her, whether it was helping care for her children, fixing her well, or even putting her emus back in the pen.

For information about the fundraiser or to donate, call Walker at (813) 309-5367.

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