Wilmer "Junior" Dunkel

     Wilmer “Junior” Lee Dunkel passed away on April 2, 2017, at his home in Broken Bow Neb.   at the age of 83.      He was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1933, in Custer County, Nebraska, to Wilmer John Dunkel and Melva Irene Oxford,       In the fall of 1939 the family moved to Wilder, Idaho.  The day before they were to leave for Idaho, he had the misfortune of falling from a horse and splitting the bone from the thigh to the knee, which resulted in wearing a cast on both legs for 12 weeks.  Idaho is where he began school.  In 1942 the family moved back to the Custer County area where he attended Dutchman Valley School, Union Valley and graduated from the eighth grade from Ash Creek Canyon School. The year between 8th and 9th grade he worked for is grandpa Bert Oxford.  He then attended Broken Bow High School, graduating in 1953.        He joined the Nebraska National Guard on January 14, 1952, when he was a junior in high school.  Junior was a head cook in the National Guard until January 13, 1961.       On October 25, 1958, Junior married Sandra Elfgren in Berwyn, Nebraska, in the covered wagon the Elfgrens came to Nebraska in.  They had three children, Monica Suzanne (Blakely), Gregory John, and Douglas Andrew.             Junior began working for Pirnie Bros while he was in high school, he continued to work for Pirnies and Charlie Sargent until 1970 when Junior went out on his own farming, raising pigs and cattle.  They lived in the Dutchman Valley area for one year before moving to the French Table Community in the Weissert area. There he continued to farm and raise livestock until he retired in the fall of 1986 and moved to Broken  Bow.   After retiring from farming he went to work for Adams Land and Cattle Company, working at the East lot in the winter and farming and haying in the spring and summer.  After leaving Adams Land and Cattle, Junior worked at the Custer County Garden Center and Custer Care Center.  After he retired completely, he enjoyed his life by spending it with his wife of 58 years, spending time with his children and grandchildren, camping, making wood crafts, playing cards, pitch and pinnocle with Vern and Velma Oatman several times a week, and playing cards weekly with “the guys” at someone’s home or at Prairie Pioneer Center. Gardening was also one of his favorite things to do.      He has been a member of the Weissert Grange since September of 1971, holding several offices.  Junior was on the Nebraska State Grange Executive Committee for six years.  He was also a member of the Custer County Feeders and Breeders Association.  He attended the Weissert Church of God.      Junior leaves behind his wife Sandra, daughter Monica and her husband Bob of Anselmo, sons Greg Dunkel of Curtis, Doug and wife Jill of Archer City, Texas, and five grandchildren, Koby (Kate) Huhman and Kyle Huhman, Ashton, Sidney and Blake Dunkel.  Sister Joanna Busseof Broken Bow, brothers Don and wlfe Marie of Lincoln and brother Dick and wife Roberta of Ogalllala.    Sister-in-laws Linda (Delbert) Smith of Gravis Mills, Missouri, and Donna (Mike) Hatfield of Lexington, as well as several nieces and nephews.  Junior was proceeded in death by his parents Wilmer and Melva Dunkel, In-laws Ernest and Dorothy Elfgren and brother-in-laws Oscar, Carl and Roger Elfgren and Harvey Busse     A memorial will be designated at a later date.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday April 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with Pastor Craig Mills officiating.  Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday April 4, 2017, 8 AM to 8 PM with the family greeting friends 6 PM to 8 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary.