Eugene G. Bunker

Eugene Glen Bunker passed away at the age of 96 on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023. He was born June 15, 1926, in Menasha, WI to Dewey and Ellie Bunker. He grew up in Neenah, WI and graduated from Neenah High School in 1944. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Denver, CO where he met the love of his life, the former Dolores Jensen, at a USO dance. By the time he finished his military training World War II had ended and he was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946. He returned to Denver in pursuit of Dolores, won her heart, and in 1947 they wed. They raised six children and were married for 73 years.

Eugene attended Regis College in Denver on the G.I. Bill, and went on to graduate from Marquette University in 1950 with a B.A. in History. He followed his best friend to library school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and earned his MLS in 1952. He was a librarian at Neenah High School, the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Rockhurst College in Kansas City, and then in 1963 was hired as science librarian at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, where he went on to become director, retiring in 1991. He particularly enjoyed working directly with St. Norbert students on their research projects.

Eugene enjoyed the outdoors and spent leisure time in Upper Michigan where the family eventually built a cabin on land purchased in the 1970s. He was fortunate to travel widely. He loved reading, especially military history, and playing cribbage, bridge, and other games. He was a lifelong sports fan, particularly golf, baseball, and football. Family lore includes a story of how he obtained his cherished Green Bay Packer season tickets in 1963, possibly as the direct result of an “assist” from Coach Vince Lombardi. He attended the “Ice Bowl.”

A devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Francis Xavier Parish in De Pere, Eugene served as Eucharistic minister and lector there. He and Dolores went on a missionary trip to Honduras where they had the pleasure of meeting several children they sponsored through Unbound. He was also a Norbertine Associate and volunteered at the Abbey in various capacities. Deeply involved in civic affairs, he chaired Boy Scout troop committees, the Salvation Army bell ringers at ShopKo, was past president of the De Pere Men's Club (when it was the Golden K), delivered Meals on Wheels (into his 90s), and volunteered at St. Vincent Hospital, the Knights of Columbus, and the Abbot Pennings Council. In 2014 he was honored to be awarded the prestigious Silver Knight award for his years of faithful service to the community.

He is preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Dolores Bunker, sister Margaret Mary Bunker, grandson Matthew Bunker, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Survivors include sister Joyce Vogel, and all his children: David (Alice) Bunker, Tom (Sally) Bunker, Sue O’Keefe, Greg (LaVon) Bunker, Joe (Carolyn) Bunker, and Jane (Joseph Sullivan) Bunker, twelve grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 5, 2023, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 220 S. Michigan St., De Pere, with visitation from 9 am until 10:30 am. A family sharing of memories will be held from 10:30 am until the time of Mass at 11 am with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating. Private burial at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery.

Family is grateful to the staff at Bellevue Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care in Eugene’s final weeks of life. Special gratitude goes out to eldest grandchild, Erin O’Keefe, for all she did for him over many years, particularly most recently the regular ice cream deliveries. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Green Bay Botanical Garden where the flowers nourish the bees and other insects.