James LeRoy Dunkel (Lebanon)'s Obituary
James LeRoy Dunkel, son of Charles Franklin and Vesta Pearl Blackwell Dunkel, was born August 19, 1946, in White City, Kansas. He departed this life Sunday, November 24, 2019, in his home, near Plato, Missouri, at the age of seventy-three years, three months, and five days.
On December 15, 1972, he was united in marriage to Shirrie Delynn Postlewait and to this union two daughters and one son were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Alexis Moseley; and a sister, Karen Wilhite.
James is survived by his wife, Shirrie, of the home; two daughters, Michele Moseley, and her husband, Doug, of Graff, Missouri, and Regina Moise, and her husband, Jason, of Waynesville, Missouri; a son, C. J. Dunkel, and his wife, Tasha, of Waynesville, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Stephanie, Mikalah, Ashley, Bridgette, Morgan, Noah, Jacob, and Riley; a special granddaughter, Jendry; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Hazel Hammock, of Ash Grove, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Jeff Postlewait, and his wife, Molly, and Roger Postlewait; three sisters-in-law, Lisa Moore, Wanda Tate, and her husband, Eldon, and Ruby Postlewait; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised in the Bolivar community, and eventually moved with his family to the Plato, Missouri area. He graduated from Plato High School and then entered the military as a young man. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army for two years. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he began working as a civil service employee at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he continued for over thirty-eight years. He had obtained an Associate Degree in Business and one in General Studies. He was a lifelong cattleman and loved his time spent on his Doolittle Creek Salers farm where the family made their home.
James was baptized into the Roby Christian Church in 1977 and had attended Porter Chapel Church. He was very steadfast in his faith.
Farming was his passion and he was a member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and the American Salers Association. He also was a huge fan of the Kansas City Royals. He was a gentle and kind man with a keen sense of humor. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed going to his children’s and grandchildren’s activities.
James was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his lifetime.
Memorial donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the Salvation Army may be made through the funeral home.
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