James Edwin BunzMarch 27, 1948 - February 11, 2012
The death of Mr. James Bunz of Muenster, SK, occurred on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at the Humboldt District Hospital. He was 63 years of age. Jim was born with a wrench in his hand. After launching his career at Korte's Garage in Muenster he received formal training as a heavy mechanic at NAIT in Edmonton. He also developed skills through trial and error. For example at 14 years of age, Jim and his brother Robin built a homemade motorcycle using an engine "borrowed" from the family garden tractor; however on the test drive the motor fell off and rolled into the ditch. So it was back to the drawing board! Jim's mechanical career went on to include working as a transmission specialist in Edmonton, followed by heavy duty mechanics in Kamloops, where he established his own automotive repair business and lived for the next 40 years. Following that he "semi-retired" in Muenster, SK, in February, 2007, where he continued his interest in mechanics. As a farmer's son, Jim retained his lifelong love of the land. He and his wife Gail lived on 80 acres outside of Kamloops for many years. It was this love of land that drew Jim back to Saskatchewan and the family home and farm. He loved spending time on his 1/4 of land Â鶹´«Ã½AV East of Muenster. He also enjoyed seasonal farm employment in the area. Jim's family was the most important aspect of his life. Together, and often with friends, they camped, hunted, fished, sledded and rode dirt bikes and ATV's virtually throughout B.C. Jim took great pride in his daughter Penny's travel experiences and in his son Mike's mechanical abilities. Jim was also an avid reader with an encyclopaedic memory, and an enthusiastic debater - woe to those who challenged his knowledge of facts. He was also a skilled brew master and sausage maker. Jim will be lovingly remember and sadly missed by his wife, Gail (nee Stretch) Bunz of Muenster; his daughter, Penny Lee Bunz (Stuart Cowden) and daughter, Lola Ambrose Cowden of Austrialia; his son, Michael Lee Bunz of Muenster; brother, Robin Bunz of Humboldt; sister, JoAnn (Allan) Hyde of Muenster; in-laws, Wayne (Doreen) Stretch of Calgary, AB; Heather (Keith) Loucks of Leduc, AB; by his nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins. Jim was predeceased by his parents, Edwin and Annie (nee Leohr) Bunz; brothers, Phillip and Gerald Bunz; parents-in-law, Don and Ethel (nee Fetterly) Stretch; and brother-in-law, Leonard Stretch. In lieu of a funeral, Jim's family has arranged for cremation as he requested. A future private family memorial service is planned. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
