Werner William Bunse, 87, of Newton died on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Skiff Medical Center. A funeral service was held Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church or Jasper County 4-H may be left at the funeral home.
Werner was born Feb. 27, 1927, in Helminghausen, Germany, to William and Augusta (Markmann) Bunse. He arrived in the United States as an infant. He graduated from Newton High School in 1945 and attended technical school in the field of tool and die. Werner served his county in the U.S. Army in WWII, stationed in Europe. Werner worked in Detroit, MI, and Seattle, WA, before moving back to Newton in 1963, where he began his 24-year career with John Deere Des Moines Works, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Werner enjoyed traveling, working in his yard and garden, and his time spent with family.
Werner is survived by his wife, Virginia; daughters, Julie (Kevin) Van Manen of Kellogg and Mary (Eric) Westvold of Newton; grandchildren, Jacob and Emily Van Manen of Kellogg; his sister, Edna Allbery of Gretna, NE; his nieces and nephews and their families; cousins; friends; and great neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Randy Allbery; and a brother-in-law, Wesley Allbery.
Above all, Werner’s gran-children, Jacob and Emily, were his pride and joy and meant everything to him.
