George Schunk, 85
Apr 17, 2018Schunk, 85, of Litchfield died Monday, April 9, 2018, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. Visitation was from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home with a 4:45 p.m. prayer service. Interment will be in Ripley Cemetery at a later date.George Joseph Schunk, son of George and Barbara (Turbis) Schunk, was born Oct. 25, 1932, in Wabasso. He grew up on a farm near Wabasso and helped his dad milk cows, a job he did not enjoy. He then started a job off the farm working on tractors. George got his boiler’s license and worked at the Redwood Falls power plant. He then moved to Minneapolis and worked at a hospital running their boiler system. He moved to Litchfield where he met Edna Andrews. Their common interest in music drew them together and they were soon married in July of 1967. Together they worked side by side refurbishing and building homes. They did everything together from wood working, raising horses and playing music. George and Edna had a band called the Red Birds Polka band and they toured Minnesota playing in parades and other venues. George had a deep desire to play a concertina at a young age so his father bought him one and sent him to the basement saying “don’t bring that upstairs until you can actually play it.” His favorite love was a backhoe, whether digging basements, septic systems or many graves.George is survived by his children, Dan (Karen), Pamela, Kim, Tim and Tom, all from the Redwood Falls area; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Lyle (Doris) Schunk of Phoenix, sister Beatrice Bertzel of Redwood Falls and brother-in-law Buzzie Atkins of New London. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Edna; brother Tom Schunk; sister Mary Ann Atkins; and children, Mike and Terry.Please sign the online guestbook at www.johnsonhagglund.com. (Crow River Media)
