John Dunkle Obituary

Dunkle, John C

John C. Dunkle, 75, of King Ferry, New York, passed away at home on July 1, 2017, surrounded by family.

Born in Huntingdon, PA, the son of Natasha and Ellsworth Dunkle, John lived in King Ferry, NY for most of his life, where he and his wife Shirley farmed and raised their family.

John is survived by his wife, Shirley (Grover) Dunkle, his daughter, Kathleen, and her husband Shaun, his daughter, Susan, and her husband Jason, his sister, Anne Barnes and family, six grandchildren, Chloe, Asa, Ezra, Silas, Logan and Maddie, and one great-grandson, Obadiah.

A private graveside service will be held in West Genoa Cemetery, King Ferry. A gathering for family and friends will be held Saturday, July 8, from 2 to 4 pm in the Fellowship Room of the United Church of Genoa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in remembrance of John can be made to the United Church of Genoa.

Published by Ithaca Journal on Jul. 5, 2017.
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Shirley,
The Pastors, Staff, and congregation members wish to extend our sincere Christian sympathy to you and your family. All are in our thoughts and prayers.
God bless!

Grace United Methodist Church

December 8, 2017

Shirley, Susan, and Kathleen,
I was sad to learn of John's passing. I have fond memories of his big smile! My prayers are with you all.

Darlene (May) Quiel

July 21, 2017

Shirley I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
I have thought of you often over the years. I am now living in Tucson AZ.
Your friend from Ludlowvile
Macye Caroline

macye Fitzpatrick

July 13, 2017

Shirley, I am sorry to hear about John. Having served with him in town government, I got to know him quite well, but until I worked for Turek's didn't have the time to really talk to him as a person. I enjoyed the times he'd come to see Dave and watched the two interact and hear their stories. What a pair! In the days to come I hope you hear all the good things folks have to say and it will bring peace to your family.

Take care.

Pat (Burgman) Houlihan

July 12, 2017

Dear Shirley, Susan, Kathleen, and family: We are saddened to hear of John's passing. . . so glad for all of the wonderful times we had together. Such special memories!! You are in our thoughts, and we send much love, and many prayers for comfort and peace at this difficult time. Love, Carl and Meredith

Meredith Schmahl

July 8, 2017

I'm so sad to hear of John's death. He was a great man and friend to my father. He will be missed
Annajean Powers

July 8, 2017

I am sorry to hear of John passing

Steven Smith

July 7, 2017

So sorry for your loss Shirley. His Ocean Oaks neighbors are saddened by your loss.
-Kris Kelly

July 7, 2017

Dearest Shirley and family,
I am sorry to hear of John's passing. My prayers and love are with you all. Will be in NY in a few weeks and will try to see all of you.

Jean Searles Thorn

July 7, 2017

Along with so many others I am heartbroken, my friend John Dunkle left this earth and all of us way too soon. I am sad for myself because I thought I had so much more time with him. For John, he left with no regrets. He lived the width as much as the depth of his life. He left no stone unturned and he made sure everything was in order for his ladies.

His love for Shirley, Kathleen, Susan and their families is unshakable. A charming man that called Shirley the boss and meant it. He loved, adored and cherished her. He bragged about her accomplishments, her hard work, her travels and her being the best mother, unconditionally loving Kathleen and Susan. John bragged about his girls. He boasted about their accomplishments. I would add that both of them taught John quite a bit about life as well and lightened him up as he aged. You always knew within the first part of your conversation where they were in the world, and what they were doing, He'd say they had their mothers looks, brains, hard work ethic, and that they are beautiful independent ladies.

No secret John was strict, and many things in his life were black and white. I quickly realized John Dunkle was a simple man with an intriguing complexity, or was it an intriguing complexity with a simple life's path. A man of his word, true integrity, hard working, dependable, trustworthy, confidential, caring, an advisor, happy to share, to teach and assist where needed. If you were a friend on John Dunkle's you had a skip in your step. He loved his friends, you knew them all by name. He shared the stories worthy of the tell.

If he picked on you, consider yourself lucky, and boy was he fun to be around!

The complexity, more colorful side of John, he was an instigator, loved a good story, loved more the creation of the good story, joker, fierce debater and loved to argue if you were willing to be a worthy opponent, but you best know your facts. He stirred it up. Sometimes you couldn't understand what he said but if the sentence ended with a laugh you learned quick to say Wait What, you may have just agreed to something you didn't know you had.

He taught me so very much about life, family, friends, marriage, traveling, business, real estate, and country life. John and Shirley have helped me in ways I could never begin to repay, and I wouldn't be even close to where I am without them.

Little did I know as I was dating Matt Fedrizzi, that John was actually interviewing me, to see if I was worthy of his friend Matt, I'm not sure when I got his blessing but somewhere I did, but it didn't stop the picking and I learned how to picked on him. Matt is beside himself, it came so quick, he is glad he had time to say goodbye too. You treated him like a son, and a friend, you both had a friendship that took few words, lots of pointing, laughter, head nods, half sentences but full clarity and understanding.

One of many but my favorite John Dunkle story. 2007 we are in Ireland, a self directed tour that John, Shirley, Matt and I went where the roads took us, not knowing where the next day took us. We are in a small towny bar about 3 in the afternoon, the bar is full, John and Matt manage to find a seat at the bar, Shirley and I are talking in the center, it's Ireland it was all men in the bar. We get called out quickly for being the Yanks, as women in a bar in the afternoon with a pint in hand was a dead give away. A man steeped with liquid courage approaches us and says something awful about our President. Who the hell does he think he is as if we know him personally

Shirley takes the bait and says I'll have you know..and starts with facts, stats and holy cow a Shirley Dunkle throw down. I head to the bar and say Hey John and Matt, Shirley is in an intense political discussion and she may get us thrown outta here, please keep an eye on us ok.

I go back to her side and next thing I know the barkeep is bringing drinks over to everyone in the bar. Your man there, John, at the bar, the Yank, he just bought the entire bar a round. Not something that happens there often!!! We stayed, unscathed.

The black and white, the story to be told, the colorful side of John Dunkle. I thank you for friendship, your guidance, your help, you have made me a better person. I pray peace finds us quick and that a smile comes to our face quicker than a tear when we hear your name. God Speed my friend, Farmer Dunkle, never forgotten ever! Melissa and Matt Fedrizzi

Melissa Miller Fedrizzi

July 7, 2017

Along with so many others I am heartbroken, my friend John Dunkle left this earth and all of us way too soon. I am sad for myself because I thought I had so much more time with him. For John, he left with no regrets. He lived the width as much as the depth of his life. He left no stone unturned and he made sure everything was in order for his ladies.

His love for Shirley, Kathleen, Susan and their families is unshakable. A charming man that called Shirley the boss and meant it. He loved, adored and cherished her. He bragged about her accomplishments, her hard work. her travels and her being the best mother, unconditionally loving Kathleen and Susan. John bragged about his girls. He boasted about their accomplishments. I would add that both of them taught John quite a bit about life as well and lightened him up as he aged. You always knew within the first part of your conversation where they were in the world, and what they were doing, He'd say they had their mothers looks, brains, hard work ethic, and that they are beautiful independent ladies.

No secret John was strict, and many things in his life were black and white. I quickly realized John Dunkle was a simple man with an intriguing complexity, or was it an intriguing complexity with a simple life's path. A man of his word, true integrity, hard working, dependable, trustworthy, confidential, caring, an advisor, happy to share, to teach and assist where needed. If you were a friend on John Dunkle's you had a skip in your step. He loved his friends, you knew then all by name. He shared the stories worthy of the tell.

If he picked on you, consider yourself lucky, and boy was he fun to be around!

The complexity, more colorful side of John, he was an instigator, loved a good story, loved more the creation of the good story, joker, fierce debater and loved to argue if you were willing to be a worthy opponent, but you best know your facts. He stirred it up. Sometimes you couldn't understand what he said but if the sentence ended with a laugh you learned quick to say Wait What, you may have just agreed to something you didn't know you had.

He taught me so very much about life, family, friends, marriage, traveling, business, real estate, and country life. John and Shirley have helped me in ways I could never begin to repay, and I wouldn't be even close to where I am without them.

Little did I know as I was dating Matt Fedrizzi, that John was actually interviewing me, to see if I was worthy of his friend Matt, I'm not sure when I got his blessing but somewhere I did, but it didn't stop the picking and I learned how to picked on him. Matt is beside himself, it came so quick, he is glad he had time to say goodbye too. You treated him like a son, and a friend, you both had a friendship that took few words, lots of pointing, laughter, head nods, half sentences but full clarity and understanding.

One of many but my favorite John Dunkle story. 2007 we are in Ireland, a self directed tour that John, Shirley, Matt and I went where the roads took us, not knowing where the next day took us. We are in a small towny bar about 3 in the afternoon, the bar is full, John and Matt manage to find a seat at the bar, Shirley and I are talking in the center, it's Ireland it was all men in the bar. We get called out quickly for being the Yanks, as women in a bar in the afternoon with a pint in hand was a dead give away. A man steeped with liquid courage approaches us and says something awful about our President. Who the hell does he think he is as if we know him personally

Shirley takes the bait and says I'll have you know..and starts with facts, stats and holy cow a Shirley Dunkle throw down. I head to the bar and say Hey John and Matt, Shirley is in an intense political discussion and she may get us thrown outta here, please keep an eye on us ok.

I go back to her side and next thing I know the bar made is bringing drinks over to everyone in the bar. Your man there John at the bar, the Yank, he just bought the entire bar a round. Not something that happens there often!!! We stayed, unscathed.

The black and white, the story to be told, the colorful side of John Dunkle. I thank you for friendship, your guidance, your help, you have made me a better person. I pray peace finds us quick and that a smile comes to our face quicker than a tear when we hear your name. God Speed my friend, Farmer Dunkle, never forgotten ever!

Melissa Miller Fedrizzi

July 7, 2017

Sorry to read about John passing.Am unable to attend the memorial service.Memories will live on.Manley Thaler

July 5, 2017

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