|
 DeLos
�Deke� William Kunkel, age 87, of Adams, died Monday, July
14, 2008 in Villa Pines
Living Center, Friendship.
Funeral service will be at noon Friday, July 18, at
Roseberry�s Funeral Home, with burial in
Mt. Repose Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to
the service at the funeral home.
Deke was born in Adams Sept. 5, 1920, the son of William and
Minnie (Malloy) Kunkel. He
acquired the nickname �Deke� at an early age from a comic
strip called �Deke and Bowser.�
Graduating from Adams-Friendship High School in 1938, he
excelled in sports, especially football
and basketball. He also played the bass drum in the high
school band. He played baseball with the
city baseball league and after high school held various
jobs. He also learned to be a welder.
During WWII, Deke served his country in the Army Air Corps
as a member of a ground crew in
the South Pacific. During this service, he used his
ingenuity to make, as an example, a washing
machine from an oil drum. He also did barbering for fellow
servicemen.
After his honorable discharge, Deke joined his father
working for the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad. He became a locomotive fireman for the railroad
and retired with a disability. He married
the love of his life, Irene Nash, on Aug. 16, 1975 and they
spent many happy years traveling to
Portugal, Spain, Jamaica, and Mexico, where they spent many
winters. Besides travel, Deke�s
hobbies included downhill skiing, golf and snowmobiling.
His favorite TV shows were �Price is
Right� and those of golfing. He served for many years on the
Adams Fire Department, retiring in
1974 as an assistant chief. He was a charter member of the
Adams-Friendship VFW Post 6279
and a proud member of the post�s firing squad which
performed military rites at veteran funerals.
He had been a mason with the Adams F&AM Lodge. In 2000, Deke
was chosen to be a grand
marshal for the state �Loyalty Day� parade in
Adams-Friendship. He took much pleasure in the
everyday joys of a life well lived and was loved by all who
knew him for his easy-going nature and
sense of humor.
Preceding him in death were: his parents; his wife; a
sister, Lola (Kunkel) Odekirk; and a
brother, Robert.
Survivors are: a sister, La Jeane (Kunkel) Hettrick of
Madison; nephews, Gary (Christine)
Odekirk, Harlan (Debra) Hettrick, and Michael Kunkel;
nieces, Denise Hettrick, Andrea (Ron)
Debs, Lynne Hettrick, Tracy Staven, Gail Hettrick, Linda
Paul, Mary Bentley, and Nancy
Kunkel; a sister-in-law, Shirley Kunkel; and many other
relatives.
In lieu of flowers, memorials be made to VFW Post 6279 in
Adams or another charity of choice.
Roseberry�s Funeral Home, Friendship, is assisting the
family. |
