Max Donald Kunkel

Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure…

You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

Max Donald Kunkel passed away on July 25, 2022, at the age of 88, in the town of Walla Walla, surrounded by his loved ones.

Max was a devoted husband, father of three, grandfather of eight, great grandfather of 15, and great-great-grandfather of 1. He lived his life working hard to provide the best for his family. He worked all over Washington and Eastern Oregon. He began his career in 1951 as a mechanic at Stokely’s in Zillah while still farming on the side. He then moved his family to Seattle to work at Boeing, where he made wind tunnel prototypes for B52’s but after deciding he didn’t care for the traffic in the big city in 1953, he got a job as a project engineer for Lamb Weston which took his family back to the Eastside to open plants for them in Quincy, Connell, Hermiston, and Boardman. After moving from town-to-town, he decided he wanted to return home to Yakima to be closer to family. He began work with Mid Columbia Forklift in the early 1980s as a sales manager and then finally retiring as a project engineer from Tree Top, in Selah, in 2007.

He loved to create memories with his friends and family. During the holidays, camping, or a weeklong stay at the family condo at Wapato Point in Chelan, he always made sure everyone had everything they needed - even if it was just your favorite drink waiting in the fridge. To know him was to know you were loved, taken care of, and would never go without.

Max was born to Charles Kunkel and Georgia (Westeman) Kunkel on April 27, 1934, in Osage City, Kansas. He moved to Zillah, Washington, with his family, where he eventually met and married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Charlotte Stone. Together they had three children: Mary Ann, David, and Carolyn. They were married for 71 years.

Max is survived by his loving wife, Charlotte Kunkel, his three children; Mary Ann Shawver (Russell) of Olympia, David Kunkel of Richland, Carolyn Foote (Alden) of Walla Walla, his eight grandkids Jeff Shawver (Andrea), Greg Shawver (Lindsey Lay), Sarissa Shawver, Erin Colclasure (Lee), Lyndsay Corder (Gordon), Tracy Garcia (David), Adam Kunkel (Samantha) and Jordan Foote; 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Georgia (Westeman) Kunkel, and his brothers, Carl and Bob Kunkel.

A service for Max will be held in Zillah on August 5, 2022, at 11 am, located at the Zillah Cemetery, 100 1st Ave, Zillah, WA 98953. Family, friends, and those who would like to pay their respects are welcome to attend. The family requests donations be sent to Ducks Unlimited at https://ducks.org .

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Guests may sign the guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com.