A 32 year- resident of Tustin, California, Major Henry "Hank" Kunkel, age 67 1/2 years, passed
away at his home in Tustin on April 19, 2005. He was born in Albert Lea, MN on October 7, 1937.
He was Commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the US Marine Corps June 3, 1959. He was a 23 year veteran
of the United States Marine Corps, having primarily flown the A4-D Skyhawk fixed wing jet and
the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter in the skies of the USA, the Caribbean, and Far East Asia,
including service as O.I.C. of the Fuji-Detachment, Japan. He was a CH-46 Test Pilot from the
aircraft's earliest days. He was day and night qualified for aircraft carrier landings with fixed
wing and helicopters. He served as Executive and Commanding Officer of HMM-161, the oldest
Marine Corps helicopter squadron, based in the "old north blimp hanger" at MCAS Tustin,
1974-1977. He served four 13 month overseas tours in countries of Southeast Asia, including
Vietnam in 1966. Following retirement from MCAS Tustin on June 30, 1979, he worked for local
computer and aerospace firms including Parker Bertea-Hannifin, Sony Transcom, and Troy, as a
Technical Writer. He wrote the manuals for the U.S. Government's "Paper Check Writing
Program" while at Troy and for the infancy stage of digital photo technology while at Sony
Transcom. Mr. Kunkel was a Substitute Teacher for the Santa Ana California Unified School
District for seven years, at the intermediate and high school level, all subjects. His daughters
Susan and Tracy, graduated from Tustin High School. Fifty years ago, he graduated from Parker
High School, South Dakota with the Class of 1955. He earned an athletic scholarship to college.
He played starting line up during eight years of football, and four years of basketball. He
attained a B.S. in Education from South Dakota State in 1959; a B.S. in Electrical Engineering
from Monterey Postgraduate School, CA 1970, an M.S. in Technical Data Management, West
Coast University, CA, 1986. He was an avid Toastmaster. He was instrumental in starting
numerous Toastmasters clubs at Orange County businesses. He served as Founder's District
Governor, 1996-97. He earned Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). He was honored as Founder's
District Toastmaster of the Year in 1990 and received the coveted Gene Beckwith Memorial
Award for service to the District in 2002. He was the guest speaker at the City of Buena Park,
California 17th Annual Memorial Day Services, May 1998. He grew up on the farm in South
Dakota, where he began driving tractor in the corn, oats, and hay fields at the age of ten. He
earned much of his college tuition "throwing" hay and straw bales for Turner County, South
Dakota farmers. He was a 4-H and high school band member. Major Kunkel is survived by his
wife of 46 1/2 years, Shirley (Dice) Kunkel of Tustin, CA; their daughters and husbands, Susan &
Dennis Bideshi of Corona, CA and Tracy & Steven Scott of Tustin, CA; five grandchildren: Amy,
Jonathan, Micah Bideshi; Stephanie, Melissa Scott; two sisters, Laetitia Ann Jergenson of
Albert Lea, Minnesota and Elizabeth "Betty Lou" Mitchell of Nampa, Idaho. He was preceded in
death by his parents, Abraham and Alma Jane Kunkel of Parker, SD. The family may be reached
at 13072 Dean St., Tustin, CA 92780. Services were held at Saddleback Chapel and Grace Harbor
Church in Tustin on April 25-26, 2005. His interment was at Riverside National Cemetery,
Riverside, CA, with full military honors on April 26, 2005.

Published in the Orange County Register on 5/15/2005.