Transferring all the nice notes we received at the Bunker Family Funeral Home website:

Diane Gacek Chlup, November 15, 2024 - Kathy, I send my condolences to you and your family. I remember the time Pam and I visited you guys in Champagne!

Jeff & Renee Catrambone, November 15, 2024 - May he rest in peace. Our condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Val And The Guys, November 15, 2024 - Sending love to you Aunt Kathy, Nils, and Kristin. We were never close, but I will always remember Uncle Ev’s appreciation of my drawings as a kid from a visit in the early 90’s. He made me feel special about my imagination.

Linda Kopp, November 16, 2024  - I knew Ev through his son and grandchildren. I always enjoyed being around him at family events. I remember him as boisterous and yer down to earth.My deepest condolences to all of his family.

Cheryl Janis, November 21, 2024  - Philip and I send so much love. We loved Ev and his stories!

Dave & Candy Gore, November 21, 2024 - Oh, the memories Ev. You leave a big hole in the universe. A force of nature for sure.

Ken, November 21, 2024 - The most irritating brother ever but I loved him my whole life. Brash and irritating he was he was a great brother and I loved him !

Jeanne Hendricks, December 1, 2024 - My heart is sad with Ev’s passing, but memories of his wit and banter with Lee, and our times together over lunch in so many different restaurants make me smile. He was the best and most innovative longarmer I have ever known…the proof being 1st and 3rd place winners in the local quilt show…he made my quilts sing. He is missed by many!

Marti And Steve, December 1, 2024 - We will miss Ev’ quick wit and generous heart. ♥️

I woke up this morning thinking of one of the funniest trips to Costco my dad and I went on while my mom was recovering from surgery. 

First off we had been practicing him being more self sufficient since my mom was limited to lifting no more than 5 lbs after her surgery. He drove us to Costco and got out pretty much on his own. I however was tasked with getting the electric driving cart which frankly was terrifying to me. 

We found an awesome spot right in front. His handicapped hanger was something he loved immensely (I cannot write the lovingly derogatory name he used and if you knew him, you could imagine) and we got THE BEST SPOT that was always taken when he had come before. We took a picture for mom because it was so exciting!

I went and got the electric cart and jerkily, nervously laughing made my way across traffic to meet my dad. He got himself in place and we were off to the wonders of Costco. We shopped our list and found some fun things, like the new pots and pans we went to get along with some staples. We tasted some less than amazing samples, picked up the cheesecake my mom wanted and made our way to the check out line making jokes and laughing through the store. 

The good part came after check out when he wanted to use the restroom. We didn't bring his walker in so this was going to be interesting. We found a single use handicapped stall (thank goodness! By then I had helped into the men's room more than once - thankfully at medical facilities and still it was funny seeing the faces of men coming in wondering if they had the wrong bathroom!). The stall was HUGE. We looked in and both of us wondered...Hey! Can we get this electric cart in there?!! We were laughing so hard trying to maneuver it in. A wild 18 point turn later and success! It JUST FIT! He wheeled right up and I left him to it. 

Getting out was just as funny. Everyone walking by watching the 18 point turn to get out with all of the beeping for back up and wondering what the heck was going on with these two laughing fools. We made quite a scene. 

The rest of the trip was uneventful. I managed to drive the cart back from our sweet parking spot and not crash into anything. 

One of the things I love best about being with my dad was laughing so hard. I don't know what it is about our family but laughing together is one of those things I didn't notice until recently. And now that he's gone, I realize that laughter was such a part of lives and he was at the center of that. I love this legacy of laugh and hope you have some adventurous crack up stories to share too.