Kenneth Gerard Bunkers

Service Is Postponed Until Thursday Due to Weather.

Memorial mass will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, with Rev. Timothy Pick officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen.  Visitation with the family present will be from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Thursday, at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen, IA. www.fischfh.com 

Kenneth (Ken) Gerard Bunkers, age 64, passed away on December 29, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, California.

Ken was born on February 9, 1959, to Vernon and Esther (Dreckman) Bunkers, welcomed home by eight siblings and later a big brother to the four that followed. Ken was raised on the farm in Remsen and graduated from St Mary’s High School in 1977. His impassioned childhood baling hay, butchering chickens, walking beans, chopping silage and planting/harvesting led him to pursue a degree in Agriculture Operations from Iowa State University, then returning home to farm alongside his brothers.

The California Dream was calling, and Ken relocated west, commencing a career in the parking industry that spanned his lifetime. Regardless of where he planted his roots, Ken could make seeds flourish; his best time was spent managing his garden of vegetables and tropical trees that cultivated produce he graciously shared with his extended family. His knowledge of compost methods and soil principles was as limitless as his family tree lineage enthusiasm and proficiency- even staying relevant with Bunkers news through his subscription to the Remsen Bell. 

Ken was united in marriage to Roxane Petretti on May 2,1998, stealing her heart as a parking valet before progressing to Parking Manager at SP Plus, additionally becoming the counterpart to her Italian cooking with his baking creations- always finding a substitute for a healthier version of banana bread. 

Together they had a son, Mark Joseph, with whom he leaves a legacy of dad jokes, the importance of a thank you note, flawless yoga poses, creative use of garden produce and the predictable blender hum of his homemade morning smoothie. Always an advocate for his son's childhood and adult pursuits, Ken generated an appreciation for everything outdoors with frequent trips to Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, to enjoy the beach, hike and camp. 

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Roxane Bunkers of Sacramento, CA; his son, Mark Bunkers of San Francisco, CA; his mother, Esther Bunkers of Remsen,IA; siblings, Terry (Marilyn) Bunkers of Remsen, IA, Marcia Bunkers of San Francisco, CA, Linda Dempsey of Sun Valley, ID, Steve (Judy) Bunkers of Remsen, IA, Anita (Willard) Bunkers Bertrand of Union, OR, Chuck (Wanda) Bunkers of Houston, TX, Bill (Teresa) Bunkers of Lake Benton, MN, Julia (Dan) Schroeder of Granville, IA, Fred (Jennifer) Bunkers of Oakland, CA, Pam (Craig) Langel of Remsen, IA and Rod (Suzie) Bunkers of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Frances Florsheim of San Francisco, CA;

Uncle Kool Ken will be forever missed and loved by his many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Bunkers; brothers, Dan and Joey Bunkers; brothers-in-law, Bob Baker, Tom Dempsey, Dan Greenig and Mario Petretti; nephew, Jared Schroeder; mother and father-in-law, Anne and Amelio Petretti; as well as grandparents, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 

Urn bearer will be his son, Mark Bunkers.

Honorary bearers will be his siblings, Terry Bunkers, Marcia Bunkers, Linda Dempsey, Steve Bunkers, Anita Bertrand Bunkers, Chuck Bunkers, Bill Bunkers, Julia Schroeder, Fred Bunkers, Pam Langel and Rod Bunkers.