Steve Dunker

January 17, 2022

The funeral service for Steven Dunker of Wadenawas held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 22, at the Alliance Church in Wadena, MN. Visitation was held on Friday, at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., and resumed at church on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service. Surrounded by his family, Steve, age 67, passed away on January 17, 2022, at the Mayo Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN. Steve was born to Lowell and LaVonne (Luthe) Dunker on November 15, 1954 in Owatonna, MN. After graduating from high school and technical college he went into telecommunications for a lifelong career. Steve was united in marriage with Jacqulyn “Jackie” Rentz on November 25, 1978, in Wadena, where they made their home and raised their family. After work hours, Steve’s passion for being outdoors found him hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and motorcycling with Jackie, family and friends. He would often putter out in his workshop, but most of all, he loved time spent with his family. Preceding Steve in death were his parents, Lowell and LaVonne; and in-laws, LaVerne and Eileen Rentz. Memories of Steve will remain with his loving wife, Jackie; children, Eric (Kristi) Dunker, Kayla (Brady) Folkestad, and Addie (Ryan Petersen) Dunker; very special grandchildren, Ruby, Ella and Brayden; siblings, Kitty (Gary) Boylan, Kriss (Bob) Frink and Julie (Ken) Tubbesing; along with Jackie’s siblings, LeRoy (Bonnie), Steven (Sandie), LaVerna (Dennis) Mellesmoen, Virginia (Charles) Brunko, Bonnie (Jim) Crider, Rita Jensen, Adele Rentz (Jack Wiemann), and Joyce Nix. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Boylan, Jack Wiemann, Chuck Brunko and Brayden Jevne. Serving as pallbearers were Jason Brunko, José Márquez, Michael Boylan, Brent Mellesmoen, Ryan Petersen, Don Scheller and Andrew Márquez. Burial will be in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN.