Ervin Junkans

Reverend Ervin Junkans, age 83, of Jefferson City, Mo., peacefully entered his eternal rest in the loving care of his family at home on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. He was born June 12, 1928, in Milwaukee, Wis., the oldest child of Arthur Edward and Lila Mathilda Hoevet Junkans, both of whom preceded him in death. He was baptized August 26, 1928, and confirmed June 4, 1944. His confirmation verse was John 6:6-8. Upon meeting and courting Gretchen Luella Van Galder, after three months he proposed and they married March 22, 1955, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. His beloved wife of 56 years survives at their home. In his early years of life, Ervin worked on his parent's farm and neighboring farms hauling grain, plowing fields and various other farm duties. He worked at a meat packing plant in St. Paul, Minn., where he was a DHIA (Dairy Health Improvement Supervisor) in Isanti, Minn. He was a United States Army veteran, serving his country from January 1951 to October 1952, in the Korean War. Upon discharge, he entered Bemeji State Teacher's College in Minn., then transferred to the University of Minnesota, graduating with a B.S. of Science in Soil Management. Later in life he received his M.S. degree in Adult Education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. He worked as a Soil's Extension Agent for the University of Minnesota and supervised 53 4-H clubs in Hopkins County, Minn. He was called into the ministry in 1959, and entered the Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Ill. Upon graduation, he was ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod June 1963, at Fergus Fall, Minn. Pastor Junkans served His Lord faithfully for 50 years. His congregations included: Our Savior's Lutheran, Sterling, Ill., Immanuel Lutheran Church, Honey Creek, Mo., St. John's Lutheran Church, Maryville, Ohio and Christ Lutheran Church, Juniata, Neb. Upon retirement in 1996, he served as an interim pastor for many area Lutheran Churches in the Jefferson City, Freedom and Hannibal areas. Pastor Junkans was the epitome of the Good Samaritan, living the example of Christ in all that he did in life. He celebrated life with his family: camping in a variety of parks across the U.S., canoeing-especially the boundary waters of Minnesota, hiking many a trail-including Bob Marshal Wilderness Trail, biking-especially the Katy Trail in Cedar City. He had a passion for gardening and is well known for his amazing ability to bring God's beautiful creations to life. His gardens at his home attest to his many years of hard work and love. He loved to read and spent hours upon hours in the word of God-his favorite book. He especially loved spending time with his family, always willing to pass on knowledge and love for the Lord to those he loved. In death, he leaves behind a legacy that will live on in the lives of his 10 living children, their spouses and their children, Paul and Donna Junkans, Henley, Mo.; John and Delene Junkans, Marysville, Ohio; Ruth Ann and Joe Stratman, Jefferson City; Mary and Rev. David Krepel, Kingfisher, Okla.; Joel and Gina Junkans, Little Rock, Ark.; Sarah and Curtis Harms, Spirit Lake, Iowa; Debra and Thomas Eckhoff, Stover, Mo.; Rev. Mark and Natalia Junkans, Houston, Tex.; Rebecca and Rev. Mathew Brooks, Mankato, Minn. and Rachel and Larry Marion, Jefferson City; two brothers, Roger Holtz and wife Georgia and David Holtz all of Sherburne, Minn.; one sister, Gladys Wenner and husband Laverne, Bradenton, Fla.; 38 grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his stepfather, Fred Holtz, children, Mark Ross Junkans I and Susanna Kay Junkans and three sisters, Irene Nystrom, Norma Holman and Janet Evans. Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 8, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Schubert, Mo., with Pastor Gerald Scheperle officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until service time at the church on Saturday. Interment, with military funeral honors, will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Schubert. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the LINC, Houston, Tex., Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City or St. John's Lutheran Church, Schubert. Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home in Russellville is assisting the family with arrangements. www.scrivner-morrow.com