Wesley Duane Shunkwiler

FAIRFIELD — Wesley “Sonny” Duane Shunkwiler, 88, passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fairfield Community Presbyterian Church, Fairfield, with Pastor Dale Phillips officiating. Burial with military rites by Fairfield American Legion Post Lewis-Trobough will be in Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Wesley was born April 25, 1928, to Wesley Zenus Shunkwiler and Alvera Marie (Wallenberg) Shunkwiler at their home in Fairfield. The oldest of eight children, he graduated from Fairfield High School in 1946. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served from February, 1951 to February, 1953. He started at Fort Riley, Kan., but spent most of his time at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. While in the service, he was the mess hall supervisor and was a pitcher on their baseball team. Wesley loved all kinds of sports, especially baseball. He loved his grandchildren and liked to attend their games and activities.

Over the years he had many jobs. He worked on the railroad, drove a gravel truck for Deweese Sand & Gravel, worked at Leverage Tools, mowed weeds along the roadside for Clay County Highway Department and drove the school bus for Sandy Creek School.

He met and married Maxine Heftie of Stockham on Dec. 28, 1962, at EUB Church in Aurora.

Wesley was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Curtis and David; sisters-in-law, Ann Shunkwiler and Arlyce Heftie; brother-in-law, Merlin Neilson; nephews, Dale Heftie and Joshua Heftie; and niece, Deb Fogo.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Maxine (Heftie) Shunkwiler of Fairfield; children, Darrell Shunkwiler of Fairfield, Lisa (Brandon) Hunnicutt of Giltner, and Lois (Mervin) George of Bellwood, Ill.; grandchildren, Kinsley, Payton, Bréley, Truett, Fallon, Breslyn, Vashti Hunnicutt and Keoni George; brothers, Kenneth Shunkwiler of Lincoln, Keith Shunkwiler of Grand Island, William Shunkwiler of Grove, Okla.; sisters, Marlene Neilson of Mankato, Kan., Linda (Roger) Herbek of Lawrence; sisters-in-law, Dell Shunkwiler of Prosper, Texas, and Linda Shunkwiler of Grand Island; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Delbert and Karen Heftie of Wisner, Clifford and Dotti Heftie of Clay Center, Ronald Heftie of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Richard and Cheryl Heftie of Stockham; Dennis and Susan Heftie of Houston, Texas; cousin and spouse, Gary and Bonnie Hoyt of Corpus Christi, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.