Thursday, March 20, 2025
Jerome (Jerry) Paul Kunkel left this earth to go be with his Father Jan. 11, 2025. Jerry was born Dec. 25, 1939, in Fort Worth to Erwin Ernest Kunkel and Francis Steed Kunkel. He attended Polytechnic High School and Tarrant County Junior College.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at Wiley Funeral Home Chapel in Granbury with visitation prior to the service from noon — 2 p.m.
A graveside service with U.S. Navy Honors will follow at Rough Creek Cemetery in Granbury.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to: Fort Worth Firefighters Museum, P.O. Box 10481, Fort Worth, TX, 76114. This is a 501(c) nonprofit corporation.
He lived in Fort Worth his entire life until he met his wife of 55 years, Marcia Lee (Carter). They lived in Keller, and moved to Granbury in 1978, so that their sons could be involved in the “farm life.”
Kunkel served from 1959-1962 in the United States Navy as QM 3 and was stationed in California. He served on the USS Yorktown while in the Navy. When his service was over, he moved back to Fort Worth, where he was a Fort Worth firefighter from 1964-1994. He always had a second job to bring additional income: Xerox, Sears, S&H Green Stamps, Double Diamond Water Well Company and Bennett Water Well Company.
Jerry loved hunting and fishing, taking care of the farm (Circle K Farm) and cows, going to the coast and watching the ocean and waves, talking, watching CNN, “offering” his opinion on everything, and hanging out with Banjo, Barkley and Peanut.
He loved being around people and “sharing” his stories.
Kunkel is preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Fred Kunkel.
Jerry and Marcia were married Dec. 31, 1969. They have two sons, Keith (Kara) from Granbury, and Kevin (Becky) from Bixby, Oklahoma. He also has seven grandchildren: Carter, Logan, Kaelin, Bryson, Micah, Nicky, Kaydence and Evie.
