Bunkers, Cletus 1921-2002

BUNKERS, BOHLKE, RITZ

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer
Date: 4/15/2007 at 15:17:04

REMSEN, Iowa -- Cletus Bunkers, 81, of Remsen died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, with the Rev. Timothy Johnson officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 220 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3328. Arrangements are under the direction of Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen.

Cletus was born April 14, 1921, in Remsen, the son of Joseph and Mary (Bohlke) Bunkers. He was raised in educated in the Remsen area. As a child, he helped his father on the family dairy farm.

On Feb. 4, 1942, he married Adeline Ritz in Remsen. He entered the U.S. Army on Aug. 22, 1942, serving during World War II in the European Theater. He was discharged Nov. 29, 1945. He returned to the Remsen area. After working as a farm laborer for a short time, he was employed as a milkman for Bunkers Dairy and eventually for Wells Blue Bunny as "The Milkman." He serviced the people of the Remsen area for many years. Many people remember him from the milk route days giving treats off the milk truck. He retired in March 1984.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Catholic Order of Foresters.

Survivors include his wife, Adeline of Remsen; two daughters and their husbands, Cheryl and Ron Paulsen of Granville, Iowa, and Meredith and Dave Scott of Meriden, Iowa; three sons, Randy and his special friend, Phyllis, and Todd and his special friend, Kay, all of Jefferson, Iowa, and Brian and his wife, Shawn of San Bernardino, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Tammy and her husband, Mark Lessman, Connie and her husband, Dan Pomrenke, Scott Paulsen and his wife, Stacey, Ellen Bunkers, Evan Bunkers, Cheri and her husband, Glenn Waterhouse, and April Wiederholt; seven great-grandchildren, Marci, Nina, Jacob, Isaac, Deven, Drew and Quinn; two brothers and their wives, LeRoy and Ruth of Remsen, and Dale and Mary of Granville; a sister, Armella Loesche of Remsen; and four sisters-in-law, Ginger Bunkers and Esther Bunkers, both of Remsen, Mary Ann Ritz of Le Mars, Iowa, and Sister Margaret Bunkers O.S.F. of Dubuque, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Vernon and Louis; two sisters, Marina and her husband, Vets Kobberman and Doris and her husband, Paul Kestel; and two brothers-in-law, Robert Ritz and Gilbert Loesche.

Pallbearers will be Curt, Dean, Mick, Steve and Terry Bunkers and Larry Kobberman. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Ervin Ahlers, Isidore Harpenau, Lyle Heidesch, Marcel Matgen, Hubert Nothem and Donald Ortmann.

[Part of the Darrell Eason Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]