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Obituary for Earl Lee Kunkel
Earl Lee Kunkel August 30, 1935 – June 2, 2016 Brookings resident Earl Lee Kunkel, age 80, passed away June 2, 2016 in Crescent City. He was born August 30, 1935 in Alhambra, California to Earle S. and Frances E. (Crabtree) Kunkel. He grew up in Alhambra and Newport Beach, CA. He was married on March 19, 1983 at Morro Bay, CA to Daisy Humphrey Schacht. Earl spent 60 years in the fishing industry along the Pacific coast from Newport Beach and Eureka, CA to Brookings and Coos Bay, Oregon. He owned and operated Earl’s Net Shop in Coos Bay in the 1970’s. Following his retirement from fishing in the late 1990’s, he built and repaired shrimp and drag nets for local fishermen, and ran Julie’s Fillet Station at the Port of Brookings-Harbor until 2011. He continued to fillet albacore for friends through 2015. He was a Life Member of Brookings Elks Lodge #1934. Earl is survived by his wife, Daisy, of Brookings; daughters Julie Tomlinson, Carol (Reuben) Florez and Trina Christensen; sons Rick Schacht and Lee Christensen; granddaughters Stacy Tomlinson (Shane) Nation, Jamie Tomlinson (James) Tavel, Melinda (Mike) Binder and Nikki Florez; great-grandchildren Hunter Diem Earl Tavel, Sydnei Mae Nation, Athena Jaid Tavel, Mackenzie Rathbone and William Rathbone. He is also survived by his sister Joy (Ken) Hockersmith. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, daughters Frances Jean Joy and Toni Lee Kunkel, and grandson Jason Joy. A memorial service will be held at the Brookings Elks Lodge #1934 on Saturday, June 25th at 2 p.m.. His ashes will be scattered at sea at a later date.. Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.
