Bruce Kunkle

Bruce A. Kunkle, age 63, formerly of St. Joseph MI, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. A Celebration of Life will be held 12:00 pm Friday, December 7, 2012 at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph, with Father William J. Jacobs Jr. officiating. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday, December 6, 2012 at the funeral home. Those wishing to share a memory of Bruce online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bruce was born in Benton Harbor February 16, 1949 to Pat and Donald Kunkle, former owners of their family business Colonial Flowers. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1967 and then enlisted in the United States Navy where he did tour duty on the USS JFK during the Vietnam era. He received his mechanical technical degree while in the service and entered into the heating and air conditioning industy for the years to follow. Most recently he was the contractor and owner of Bruce Kunkle Geo-Thermal Systems in Troy, Michigan. In his younger years he enjoyed playing softball and the camaraderie of his friends. Recently, golf has been his favorite past time. He loved every aspect of the game of golf from being in the beauty of nature to the company of his family and friends. Bruce, being the son of two florists, had a natural love of gardening until his death. He revived and kept care of plants that were half his age. He was a caring son, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and a cheerful man whose laughter and wit will be greatly missed. Bruce embodied the value that everyone was his equal. Bruce is survived by his wife, Dr. Mirjana “Mimi” Popovic; sons Bruce Kunkle II of Sawyer, Brent (Stacy) Kunkle of Stevensville, Brian Kunkle of St. Joseph ; daughter Teresa (Rocky) Kunkle Watson of Hartford; step son Stevan (Christina) Popovic, step daughter Katarina Popovic; grandchildren Candice Watson, Brinan (Lucis) Fonseca, Abby Watson, Bryce Kunkle, Teagan Kunkle, and Maya Popovic; great grandchildren Lucadis and Cain Fonseca; mother Patricia Kunkle Brown; sister Trisha Hayes of Aurora, IL; and brother Dale Brown of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is preceded by his father, Donald Kunkle; brother Donald Kunkle; and sister Laura Brown.