Gerald “Gerry” A. Bunkers, 78, passed away Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Bethany Home in Sioux Falls, SD. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 2, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. On-line condolences may be left at the Zinzley Funeral Home website.
A longtime resident of Sioux Falls and fixture in the brokerage community, Gerry was born May 12, 1939, to Andrew and Agnes (Dresch) Bunkers in Dell Rapids, SD. He attended St. Mary’s High School in Dell Rapids, and he went on to earn a business degree at the University of South Dakota. During college, he served in the Army ROTC program.
On June 21, 1963, he married Donna Warn at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls. The couple moved to Omaha, NE, where Gerry worked several years in construction management. They later moved to Salem, SD, where they owned and operated the Chess Lounge and Pleasant Acres Restaurant. Gerry later earned his brokerage license and worked for A.G. Edwards in Sioux Falls, earning several corporate awards during his decades-long career with the firm.
Gerry was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and the Kiwanis Club. Gerry was an avid hunter, fisherman, boater and skier, but he truly loved spending time with relatives and friends at the family’s cabin on Lake Madison, SD.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Donna of Sioux Falls; children, John (Jill) of Golden Valley, MN, Kelly (Scott) Thien of Indianapolis, IN, Mike of Burnsville, MN, and Jeremy (Kelsey) of Bozeman, MT; siblings, Jen (Jack) Donovan, Bob (Cecelia), Ken (Glenda), Jean (Ray) Pederson, Mary Sue, Diane (Bob) Reiff, and George (Gwen); eleven grandchildren, Jacob, Josephine, Jessica and Thomas Bunkers, Andrew, Joshua and Katie Thien, Cameron and Caleigh Bunkers, Logan and Taylor Bunkers; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Earl; sister-in-law Ellen; and grandson Daniel Thien.
Burial will be private. The Bunkers and Thien families would like to thank all the family, friends and caregivers who helped Gerry through his recent illnesses. In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana, 435 Limestone Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, or online at www.rmhccin.org.