NEW BERLIN – Leon G. “Sam” Dunckel, 72, of New Berlin, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 19, 2008 in the Valley View Manor Nursing Home, where he had resided for the past three years.
The son of Clinton and Ruth (Steere) Dunckel, Sam was born in Norwich in July of 1935. He grew up in South Plymouth and attended the Norwich schools until 1953, when his family moved to Georgetown. Sam finished his schooling there and was a graduate of the Georgetown High School. Throughout his life, Sam held jobs with various employers, including Bennett Ireland, and worked for a time as a tractor trailer driver. In the early 1960s he moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, living there until the early 1970s when he returned to Chenango County. In 1978, he began his 18-year career with GLA and its successors, retiring in 1996 as an assembler.
Sam was a former member of the Georgetown Fire Dept. and several area granges. He was an avid fan of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, enjoyed stock car racing, CB radios, and electric trains. He had an extensive collection of John Deere toys, liked to watch the birds, and loved his cats. On Aug. 31, 1985, in Columbus, he married Marie Gerst.
Sam is survived by his wife, Marie Dunckel of New Berlin; by his son, Randy Dunckel of Florida; and by his step-children and their families: Kathy Lum, husband Jim, children Dana Keppler and Crystal Jachmann and grandson Aidan; Keith Robinson, wife Ann of Norwich, sons Keith Jr. and Kyle; Kevin Robinson and wife Shannon of New Berlin, and son Dawson; Brenda Peek, husband Robert of New Berlin, their children Matthew, Jennifer, and Cory. He is also survived by his sisters, Barb Wright of Sherburne and Joyce Ryan and husband Tom of Oxford; nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, great nephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Sam will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeff McLallen, pastor of the South Edmeston Community Church, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Monday from 11 a.m. until the service at 1 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.