Eugene Bunge

1935 - 2025

Eugene (Gene) H. Bunge, age 90, of Hallandale Beach, Florida passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2025 after an unexpected cancer diagnosis.

He was born on May 4, 1935, and grew up on a farm in Eitzen, Minnesota. Farming was not in Gene's future and after graduating high school he enrolled in Hamline University, St. Paul Minnesota (B.A) and obtained a post graduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. This laid the groundwork for Gene's passion for acting and directing. After the Korean War where he was stationed at the Army Pictorial Center (New York City) and the Armed Forces Korea Network (Seoul, Korea) Gene resumed his acting career in New York City doing off -Broadway theater.

Later he moved to St. Paul MN and met Sharon Sweeney. They fell in love and decided to get married after their first date. They enjoyed 26 years of marriage and raised their two daughters, Mary and Alice.

Gene's work eventually transitioned to television where he had a long career as an Emmy award winning producer, director and program director for PBS. (KTCA, St. Paul, MN, WTTW, Chicago, Ill, and Nebraska Public Television, Lincoln NE.

Gene decided to retire from NETV at the age of 63 so he would be young enough to enjoy physically challenging adventure travel. He met that challenge climbing mountains in the Himalayas, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, bungee jumping off the Kawaru Bridge in New Zealand, bicycled through France, skied the Alps in Italy, safaried in Africa, and hiked multiple glaciers on different continents. On these adventures he always made time for his love of art by visiting museums, temples, mosques, churches, castles and other historical landmarks camera in hand.

Later, Gene met Jerry and they enjoyed 28 years of partnership and a love of fine arts and travel. Also during his retirement Gene returned to acting and appeared in various theater, film and television productions. Most notable was a commercial for AARP named Spoon, which was nominated for best commercial at the Cannes Film Festival and Martin Scorsese's film, The Irishman.

At the age of 87 he and Jerry went to Paris and enjoyed visiting museums, and sitting in a cafe watching the world go by. However, this still was not Gene's last transatlantic trip.

In May of this year he and Jerry traveled to the Netherlands and experienced the vast fields of colorful tulips, sightseeing, and a river boat cruise.

Gene was known for his love of his family, the arts, world travel, reading his kindle, sitting at the beach and baseball. Gene is survived by his partner, Jerry Jensen; his two daughters Mary McGaughey (Brian, Gabi and Josh) and Alice Tvrdik (Greg, Franny and Mickey), Sharon Bunge; his siblings; Glenn Bunge and Rosalie (Harvey) Dundas and multiple loved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Life will be held at Boatyard 1555 SE 17 St, Fort Lauderdale FL on Oct 5 from 1-3 p.m.