Wilma Roberts Bunkowski, age 91, of
Perham
,
MN
passed away
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
, at
Sunrise
Assisted
Living
Center
,
Golden Valley
,
MN
.
Wilma was born
March 9, 1917
, in
Spruce Grove Township
,
MN
, the daughter of Walter J. Roberts and Bessie (Paulson) Roberts. She was raised in Spruce Grove, attended school there, romped in the woods with her cousin Millie, and at an early age, Wilma learned to dance, one of the joys of her life. While she may have outgrown romping in the woods, she never lost her love of dancing. In fact, not long ago she was delighted to learn that her granddaughter, Emma, participated in ballroom dancing.
As a young woman, Wilma’s adventurous spirit took her to
Washington
State
and
Texas
to see the country and spend time with aunts and uncles who lived there. She even convinced her cousin
Pearl
to travel with her to
Corpus Christi
. Wilma married Kenneth Bunkowski on
July 17, 1945
, and they briefly lived in
Sausalito
,
CA
, until Ken was discharged from the military. When Ken and Wilma settled in
Evergreen Township
,
MN
, and started a family, Wilma’s lifelong profession of homemaking began. She was devoted to her family and home in every sense of the word. No matter where the family lived, (Evergreen to
Minneapolis
to
North Carolina
) Wilma’s comfortable home, gentle smile, and homemade bread were always present. She not only took immense pride in the home she made for her family but she also saw it as her responsibility and took it very seriously. She was a great wife and mother!
When their children were grown, Wilma’s adventurous spirit once again took hold and she was able to resume her travels, though this time not alone. She and her lifelong partner and husband, Ken, motored throughout the
United States
, and traveling east to west and north to south, they saw nearly every state. Visiting family and friends or simply enjoying each other’s company, they loved their times on the road. One of the highlights of their travels was spending their 50
th
Anniversary in
Honolulu
,
HI
.
Wilma is survived by her son, Kenneth (Karen) Bunkowski, Jr., Salt Lake City, UT; and daughter, Diana Valentine, Minneapolis, MN; four grandchildren, Lisa Caudill (David), Seattle, WA; Karen Grizzell, Cincinnati, OH; Matthew Bunkowski, Mauritius; Emma Katherine Valentine, Minneapolis, MN; great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Preceding Wilma in death are her parents; husband, Kenneth; a brother, Allen Roberts; and a sister, Janet Christen.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to
St. Paul
’s
Lutheran
Church
and School,
Perham
,
MN
.
