IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Alvin Paul
Zunkel
October 19, 2014
Obituary
ELKHART — A celebration of life service is scheduled Alvin P. Zunkel at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1732 Garden St., Elkhart.
Alvin Zunkel, 84, breathed his last breath and transitioned to the next place Oct. 19, at Miller's Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
ELKHART — Alvin P. Zunkel, 84, breathed his last breath and transitioned to the next place on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Miller's Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
He was born in Chicago on Jan. 14, 1930, to John and Leah (Senger) Zunkel.
Surviving are his sister, Clara (Pete) Shank of Abilene, Kan.; two daughters, Carolee (Mark) Williams of Springfield, Ohio, and Krisann (Scott) Applegate of Columbus, Ohio; one son, John (Lisa) Zunkel of Gainesville, Fla; seven grandsons, Paul and Brian Williams, Thomas and Steven Applegate, and Carson, Jackson and Harrison Zunkel; two former wives, Patricia Cole of Gainesville and Sharon Pedler of Elkhart; and his loving companion, Mary M. Perron.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ida Stinette; and a very special friend, Esther Bontrager Kuhns.
Al was schooled through high school in Chicago, then studied at McPherson (Kan.) College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in education in 1953. While at McPherson he enjoyed playing on their basketball team with three friends from Chicago.
Following college, he went to Bethany Biblical Seminary in Chicago, receiving his Bachelor of Divinity degree. His first ministerial position was in Washington, D.C.
From there he went to Oakland, Calif., serving as pastor for six years. While in Oakland he earned an STM (Master of Sacred Theology in the field of pastoral counseling and pastoral psychology) at the Pacific School of Religion. His career as a pastoral counselor took him to Columbus; Dunedin, Fla.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Elkhart. While working as a pastoral counselor in Columbus, he also was a national trainer of counselors in the use of transactional analysis techniques.
After retirement, Al enjoyed taking road trips to visit family; researching genealogy; exploring a wide variety of museums; golfing in several leagues; cross-country skiing; renewing his interest in the French horn and playing with New Horizons, the Elkhart Municipal Band and a small brass ensemble; designing and building furniture and toys in his woodworking shop; avidly reading; writing; listening to jazz and classical music; and watching sports events on TV.
His volunteer activities included hospice, the Literacy Network, the Elkhart Jazz Festival and the Elkhart Symphony Board of Directors. He remained engaged in a lifelong spiritual journey with his reading, participating in discussion groups and regular correspondence with a retired minister friend until his open heart surgery in January 2007. He was finally released from the limited existence he was left with subsequent to that surgery when freed by his death on Oct. 19.
As Al wished, he has been cremated.
Billings Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
A celebration of his life will be at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Elkhart at a later date.
Mary and Al's family wish to thank the staff of Miller's Merry Manor and the Center for Hospice Care for the loving and conscientious care they gave to Al during his last 10 months of life.
Contributions may be made in Al's memory to any organization that does not discriminate against any person. During his life, Al made contributions to many charities. He was a generous, kind, gentle, witty, loving and lovable human being who was very accepting of others.
He will be missed by many and will remain alive in the hearts and minds of all who love him.
Alvin Zunkel, 84, breathed his last breath and transitioned to the next place Oct. 19, at Miller's Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
ELKHART — Alvin P. Zunkel, 84, breathed his last breath and transitioned to the next place on Sunday, Oct. 19, at Miller's Merry Manor in Wakarusa.
He was born in Chicago on Jan. 14, 1930, to John and Leah (Senger) Zunkel.
Surviving are his sister, Clara (Pete) Shank of Abilene, Kan.; two daughters, Carolee (Mark) Williams of Springfield, Ohio, and Krisann (Scott) Applegate of Columbus, Ohio; one son, John (Lisa) Zunkel of Gainesville, Fla; seven grandsons, Paul and Brian Williams, Thomas and Steven Applegate, and Carson, Jackson and Harrison Zunkel; two former wives, Patricia Cole of Gainesville and Sharon Pedler of Elkhart; and his loving companion, Mary M. Perron.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Ida Stinette; and a very special friend, Esther Bontrager Kuhns.
Al was schooled through high school in Chicago, then studied at McPherson (Kan.) College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in education in 1953. While at McPherson he enjoyed playing on their basketball team with three friends from Chicago.
Following college, he went to Bethany Biblical Seminary in Chicago, receiving his Bachelor of Divinity degree. His first ministerial position was in Washington, D.C.
From there he went to Oakland, Calif., serving as pastor for six years. While in Oakland he earned an STM (Master of Sacred Theology in the field of pastoral counseling and pastoral psychology) at the Pacific School of Religion. His career as a pastoral counselor took him to Columbus; Dunedin, Fla.; Rochester, N.Y.; and Elkhart. While working as a pastoral counselor in Columbus, he also was a national trainer of counselors in the use of transactional analysis techniques.
After retirement, Al enjoyed taking road trips to visit family; researching genealogy; exploring a wide variety of museums; golfing in several leagues; cross-country skiing; renewing his interest in the French horn and playing with New Horizons, the Elkhart Municipal Band and a small brass ensemble; designing and building furniture and toys in his woodworking shop; avidly reading; writing; listening to jazz and classical music; and watching sports events on TV.
His volunteer activities included hospice, the Literacy Network, the Elkhart Jazz Festival and the Elkhart Symphony Board of Directors. He remained engaged in a lifelong spiritual journey with his reading, participating in discussion groups and regular correspondence with a retired minister friend until his open heart surgery in January 2007. He was finally released from the limited existence he was left with subsequent to that surgery when freed by his death on Oct. 19.
As Al wished, he has been cremated.
Billings Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
A celebration of his life will be at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Elkhart at a later date.
Mary and Al's family wish to thank the staff of Miller's Merry Manor and the Center for Hospice Care for the loving and conscientious care they gave to Al during his last 10 months of life.
Contributions may be made in Al's memory to any organization that does not discriminate against any person. During his life, Al made contributions to many charities. He was a generous, kind, gentle, witty, loving and lovable human being who was very accepting of others.
He will be missed by many and will remain alive in the hearts and minds of all who love him.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alvin Paul Zunkel, please visit our flower store.
Services
Celebration Of Life Service
November
8
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Elkhart
Starts at 3:00 pm