Vernon N. Dunkel

1938-2022

Vernon N. Dunkel, age 83 of Rib Lake, passed away on Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2022, at Marshfield Medical Center under the care of his family and Palliative Care. A Celebration of Life for Vernon will be held on Saturday, Apr. 16 at Zondlo’s Bar from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Vernon was born in Medford on Sept. 22, 1938 to the late George and Minnie (Larson) Dunkel. Vernon was married for 60 years to the love of his life, Sandra J. (Judnic) Dunkel, who preceded him in death. Vernon worked at Simplicity until 1970 until he started working for Michel’s Pipeline for 30 years until his retirement in 2000.

Vernon shot dart ball, played softball and baseball. He was an avid trapper and hunter. He loved to flyfish. One of his greatest passions was teaching his grandkids to do all of these. He so enjoyed taking his grandsons ATV’ing and trapping. He was the master at taking his grandkids hunting and made sure that his granddaughters had their hunting spots. During summertime, Vernon’s joy was to keep his hummingbirds fed and his garden kept up. He loved his Cubbies and Spirit Twins. Vernon was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church and Judnic Dunkel Buck Buster Hunting Club. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched.

Survivors include two sons, Randy Dunkel, Sr. and Ryan (Dawn) Dunkel, Sr. all of Rib Lake; two daughters, Robin (Jeff) Dunkel of Medford and Renee (Scott) Zondlo of Rib Lake; three brothers-in-law, Jerry (Ann) Judnic, Larry (Pat) Judnic all of Rib Lake and Russell (Judy) Judnic of Stanley; two sisters-inlaw, Doris Zitzer of Rib Lake and Lynn Judnic of Kewaskum; and two sisters, Carol Zimdars and Marlene Kulczyski.

Vernon is further survived by his grandchildren, Mandi (Matt) Natzke, Joe (Heather) Zocher, Randy (Summer) Dunkel, Jr., Tyler (Rachel) Zocher, Breanne (Kelly) Polacek, Logan (Heather) Dums, Brooke (Pete) Klingbeil, Dylan (Amalia) Willemssen, Dakota Willemssen, Rachel Dunkel and Ryan Dunkel, Jr.; and his great-grandchildren, Rylee, Maddix, Cory, Cadence, Domanic, Blaine, Collyn, Rose, Violet, Lenora, Kearan, Waylon and Ellis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Minnie; grandson, Brent Zondlo; two brothers, Donald and Kenneth Dunkel; four sisters, Mae Kelnhofer, Alva Kieth, Marjorie Kelnhofer and Judy Dunkel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be used for the purchase of fruit trees for his hunting land.

Paid Obituary 118280