DaWayne Dunkel

Broken Bow, NE- DaWayne Dunkel age 73 of Broken Bow died Friday February 26, 2010 at his home in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be held Tuesday March 2, 2010 at 10:30 AM in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday 8 AM to 5 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary. A rosary service will be held Monday evening at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow. DaWayne was born July 6, 1936 to George and Pearl (Bayless) Dunkel near Merna, NE. DaWayne grew up and attended rural schools in Custer County. His family settled in Broken Bow when he was 14 years old. On September 25, 1956 he married Darlene Carpenter. They raised their six children on an acreage southwest of Broken Bow. Hard work and devotion to his family defined DaWayne’s life. From 1954 to 1960 he was employed by Knoell Construction Company. He spent the next 27 years as a foreman and superintendent of Kiewet Construction building highways throughout Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. He was most proud of his involvement in the completion of Interstate 80 across Nebraska. DaWayne retired from construction in1988 and fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing ranchland near Broken Bow. The last 22 years of his life he enjoyed tending his cattle, horses, pastures and large vegetable garden. DaWayne is survived by Darlene, his wife of 53 years; their children, Dale of Evanston, WY, Micki (Tom) Huston of Lincoln; Dave of Broken Bow; Cindi (Kermit) McCarter of Lincoln; Jennifer (Rob) Wemhoff of Kenesaw; Melanie (Doug) Todd of Ada, OK; brother Ken (Pennie) Dunkel of Scottsbluff; sister, Donna Haines of Broken Bow; 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Gary (Jackie) Carpenter of Las Vegas NV; Dan (Lois) Carpenter of Kearney; John (Vickie) Carpenter, Charleston, SC and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gerald.