Elmer Kunkel

Elmer Kunkel, 76, of Haverhill, died Tuesday, March 23rd, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27th, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Haverhill with Fr. Don Czapla officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery at Haverhill beside his son, Doug. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Born on August 2nd, 1933, in Haverhill, Iowa, he was the son of John and Bertha (Freese) Kunkel. He attended St. Josephs Parochial School in Haverhill and graduated from St. Marys High School in Marshalltown. Elmer farmed for many years and later was a salesman for a steel company. He put his expertise to work and opened Des Moines Steel in 1992 along with his wife, Judy. Elmer was a member of the St. Henrys Catholic Church and formerly Immaculate Conception, the Elks Lodge, the Knights of Columbus and the Marshall County Conservation Board. In early years on the farm, Elmer raised Registered Polled Herefords and gained a high reputation among cattle producers. He loved to look for arrowheads and was an avid history buff of WWII and Native American culture. On November 19th, 1955, he was united in marriage to Shirley Malachek at St. Marys. They later divorced. On August 30th, 2001, in Des Moines, after many years together, he was married to Judy Keith. Elmer was instrumental in establishing the Haverhill Volunteer Fire Dept. and was active in conservation and donated the windmill at the Grimes Farm. He appreciated restoring wild turkeys into the wild. He enjoyed his family, gardening and trees. Four years ago, Elmer received a liver transplant. Left to cherish his memory is Judy, his loving wife, his children: Geri (Craig) Kunkel-Pierce and Mary Jo (Terry Young) Kunkel all of Haverhill, daughter-in-law Laurie Kunkel of Newton, step-son: Tharren (Dawn) Keith (children Emme, Kiowa, Joey and Summit) and step-daughter Tori Keith; grandchildren: Jason Young (children Xander and Dax), Jacob (Jen) Young, Jason Matteson (his children Josie, Jackson and Jaydalin), Ben (Dawn) Matteson (children Emma and Chloe), and Casey Edwards (daughter Sierra). Elmer was blessed with a big family of siblings including Cyril (Mary) Kunkel of Davenport, Urban Kunkel, Rosella (Bob) Hartwig, Esther (Jim) Nusbaum and Marilyn (Al) Spafford all of Marshalltown, sisters-in-law Delores Kunkel of Bettendorf, Carmen Kunkel of Marshalltown and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In death, Elmer was rejoined with his parents, son Doug, brothers Ed and Wilbert, sister-in-law Colleen and sister Viola in infancy.