Robert "Bob" Bunkowske, 78, of Perham, formerly of Fergus Falls died Friday, September 5, 2008, at the Perham Hospital.
Bob was born on December 15, 1929, to Rudolph and Alma (Sonnenberg) Bunkowske in Perham. He grew up in the Vergas areas and graduated from Perham High School in 1948. In high school, Bob was first-string athlete in football, basketball and played for the Vergas baseball team. After spending a year in Chicago and California, he and his younger brother Don started farming, first in the Vergas area, then in Foxhome. After Don returned to the Vergas area, Bob spent 50 years building his own farming operation of Bunkowske Farms and Bunkowske Trucking.
Bob married LaVonne Moore of Nashua on February 28, 1958, and they lived on the Foxhome homestead place until their move to Fergus Falls in 1968. They had three daughters, Tamie, Heidi and Stacie. LaVonne passed away in 1998. Bob retired from farming in 2000.
In 2005, Bob moved from Fergus Falls to the Perham Lakes area. He enjoyed the Minnesota lake summers and his Coronado, California home in the winters. In California, Bob spent his time golfing, playing bridge, riding bike, and exploring the San Diego area. In returning to his boyhood home of Perham in his 70s, Bob enjoyed visiting with his high school buddies, getting together with family, fishing, and driving the country roads which he knew like the back of his hand. He would drive to Fergus Falls often for cards and to check out the crops.
He is survived by his three daughters, Tamie Bunkowske of Kihei, Hawaii; Heidi Bunkowske of San Diego,CA; Stacie (Dan) VanWatermulen, Moorpark, CA; his sister Leola Ferber, Detroit Lakes, MN; brother Don (Jeanette) Bunkowske, Vergas, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins he saw often and loved dearly.
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He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Alma Bunkowske and his wife, LaVonne Moore in1998.
Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 1 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Roger Lang
Burial: 4 p.m. Friday in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery at Vergas
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
condolences to: www.glendenilson.com
