George J. Schunk

George J. Schunk, age 85, of Litchfield died on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home with a prayer service at 4:45 PM. Interment will be in the Ripley Cemetery at a later date. George Joseph Schunk, the son of George and Barbara (Turbis) Schunk, was born on October 25, 1932 in Wabasso. He grew up on a farm near Wabasso and helped his dad milk cows, a job he did not enjoy. He then started a job off the farm working on tractors. George got his boiler’s license and worked at the Redwood Falls power plant. He then moved to Minneapolis and worked at a hospital running their boiler system. He moved to Litchfield where he met Edna Andrews. Their common interest in music drew them together and they were soon married in July of 1967. Together they worked side by side refurbishing and building homes. They did everything together from wood working, raising horses and playing music. George and Edna had a band called the Red Birds Polka band and they toured Minnesota playing in parades and other venues. George had a deep desire to play a concertina at a young age so his father bought him one and sent him to the basement saying “don’t bring that upstairs until you can actually play it”. His favorite love was a backhoe, whether digging basements, septic systems or many graves. George is survived by his children, Dan (Karen), Pamela, Kim, Tim and Tom all from the Redwood Falls area; several grand children and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Lyle (Doris) Schunk of Phoenix, sister Beatrice Bertzel of Redwood Falls and brother-in-law Buzzie Atkins of New London. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Edna; brother Tom Schunk; sister Mary Ann Atkins; and children Mike and Terry.