Kelly James Unger

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared."— Exodus 23:20 (NIV)

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, and friend, Kelly Unger, on Saturday, January 24th. Kelly passed away while holding my hand, with our children at his side — surrounded by love, faith, and prayer.

Already deeply missing Kelly are me, Leanne, his beloved wife of 27 years, his son Tobyn, and his daughter Avalon. Also mourning his passing are his parents, Cliff and Linda Unger, his siblings Merl (Dani), Pam (Brad), and Sheldon (Jacqueline); his second set of parents, Abe and Mary Hiebert; his sisters- and brothers-in-law Lisa (Garth), Jason (Shannon), and Laura (Randy); as well as many incredible nieces and nephews whom he adored deeply.

A memorial service with tributes, special memories and stories will be held at the Steinbach Evangelical Mennonite Church, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. When we gather to honour him, casual dress is welcome, jeans and plaid shirts encouraged, just as he would have wanted. If friends wish to honour Kelly’s memory, donations may be made to assist the family with funeral expenses. Your love, prayers, and support mean more than words can express during this time.

Kelly was a man of quiet but unshakeable faith. Nothing mattered more to him than loving his family and serving others. He was an encourager, a prayer warrior, and a steady presence of peace. He prayed daily over our family, and praise and worship were close to his heart. During his hospital stay, one of the only times he raised his hands was to worship Jesus. As his earthly body weakened, one of the few words he continued to speak was “Amen,” faithfully spoken after prayers offered over him.

Kelly shared his faith humbly but consistently. He and his dear friend Duane exchanged Bible verses every day, delighting especially when they unknowingly sent each other the exact same verse. Kelly's wisdom often arrived in the form of a handwritten card or a carefully chosen Scripture — quiet guidance, always offered with love.

Even in moments of great struggle, Kelly always put others first. While we were in Mexico seeking treatment and he was having a particularly difficult day, he turned to me and said, “I am praying for Randy.” That was Kelly — always thinking of someone else, always loving beyond himself.

Kelly loved me in a way no woman could ever deserve. He adored his children — Tobyn and Avalon were his entire world. From the moment they could walk, they were his shadows, included in everything he did. He was their greatest teacher, patiently and humbly passing on his skills, his wisdom, and his heart.

Kelly could renovate an entire house, fix vehicles, solve any electrical or plumbing problem, and took great pride in his auto body career. He loved yard work, projects, and keeping busy. I was the dreamer and the visionary — Kelly was the executor who made everything happen.

His sense of humour, quick wit, and one-liners were legendary. We laughed every single day — sometimes over absolutely nothing. Even during middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks, we would say something and burst into laughter. That humour never left him, even during his illness. He made me laugh every day, right until the end.

Kelly’s acts of love were selfless and constant. He took care of us in every way imaginable, always quietly, always without expectation.

The lake was his happy place. Our little cottage was his pride and joy. He was a cherished neighbour in both Mitchell and Falcon Lake — always smiling, joking, and ready to help. He never raised his voice and never showed anger. Any frustration could quickly be softened with humour and perspective.

He loved his extended family deeply. Snowmobiling with the Sled Hacks group was one of his greatest joys — riding sunup to sundown with his brothers, nephew, and son. He would return home beaming, saying they only rode “20 miles” but found the deepest, best snow imaginable. He loved sharing the videos — moments we will treasure forever. Pulling nieces and nephews behind the boat was especially fun for him, filling the lake with laughter and unforgettable memories.

Kelly also loved ice fishing and lake fishing in his beloved “5 o’clock Charlie” tinny boat, hiking, mountain biking, renovating, and tackling endless projects. Avalon often out-fished him, laughing when he got tangled in the trees — moments full of joy and love.

I truly married my better half. Tobyn and Avalon had the best daddy in the world, and God created the perfect husband just for me.

While our hearts are broken, we rejoice the certainty of Kelly's faith and in the promise of Scripture:

"For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is when we die and leave this earthly body) we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." 2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT

We will tell Kelly stories forever and ensure that his legacy lives on. I see Kelly in our children every day — in Avalon’s humour and fearless fishing lessons, in Tobyn’s long conversations about sleds, renovations, and maintenance and I see him in both of their unshakeable faith in Christ. Kelly lives on through them.

His friendships lasted a lifetime, and everyone who met him was drawn to his tender heart and quiet strength. We ache for how deeply we miss him, and we look forward to the day we will meet him again.

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever “Amen.”

Donations to support the family with funeral expenses may be made by eTransfer to info@crossingsfuneralcare.ca. Kindly include “Kelly Unger Funeral” in the memo line.

For those of you that would like to join the family via livestream a link will be provided in the obituary in the coming days.