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Cup of Joe

There aren’t many six-year-olds that appreciate a good cup of coffee. Joe Kunz, a six-year-old from Sioux Falls, is certainly an exception to the rule.

The first grader started drinking coffee nearly four years ago, after his granddad, Bruce Kroetch, introduced him to it. Bruce and his wife, Linda, were coming from Philip, South Dakota to visit Joe’s family one weekend. Joe knew his granddad would want something to read in the morning, and his family didn’t get the newspaper, so Joe picked up two copies of the most recent issue of The Motor Market.

Bruce and Joe sat down at the kitchen table together, and read The Motor Market cover to cover. Bruce asked Joe if he’d like to try his coffee, and Joe was intrigued. Known as a selective eater, it’s surprising that Joe liked coffee so much, but it’s a bond he now shares with his granddad. Over time, the gentlemen ventured out to local coffee shops for a cup of Joe (no pun intended) and Joe’s favorite chocolate mini donuts.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that the duo rides to their coffee dates in style. Joe had always wanted to ride in Bruce’s green 1966 Mustang, so it makes sense that they drove it to their very first coffee break. Though the Mustang is the usual transportation of choice, Bruce’s Polaris three-wheel Slingshot has also been for a few coffee cruises. In the winter, when they need something dependable to get through the snow, they’ll take Bruce’s trusted pickup truck. The Mustang is Joe’s favorite because “it’s so fast,” but he loves all the cars and doesn’t care which one they take, as long as he has chocolate donuts, coffee, his granddad, and The Motor Market.

Because of the distance, coffee time only comes every couple of months for Bruce and Joe. Unfortunately, it’s been since December that Joe has shared coffee with his granddad. In February, Bruce was diagnosed with cancer and has been in Texas for treatment ever since. Joe doesn’t want Bruce to miss a single issue of The Motor Market, so he takes a photo of the cover and sends it to his granddad to let him know the new issue is out. Joe picks up two copies of the magazine each month – one for himself and one for Granddad – and keeps them closed until they can get together again.

Joe is anxious for his granddad to come back to South Dakota, and to come back healthy. With eight issues of The Motor Market to catch up on, the pair will certainly be spending some quality time together. Joe says, “Since it’s a big coffee break, maybe I can get big donuts. Or little donuts and big donuts!” Joe tells his granddad that last month was National Coffee Month, and Bruce agrees they will celebrate when he comes home.

Bruce and Joe aren’t the only ones that cherish the bond they share. Bruce’s daughter, Lisa, is thankful for the relationship her dad has with her son. She says, “As a mom and daughter, to see something they can bond over…it’s neat that they have that. To be able to spend time together and do this, it’s priceless.”

August 2016

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Cup of Joe

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