William O. "Bill" Dunkel, age 79, of Watertown, SD passed away on Monday, June 16, 2014 at the hospital in Watertown.
Bill was born on August 28, 1934, in Leola, SD to Ernest J. and Pauline (Glaser) Dunkel. He graduated from Aberdeen High School. One June 7, 1957, he entered the US Army. He later was honorably discharged.
On September 2, 1960, Bill married Elinor Hammel in Aberdeen. The couple moved to Minneapolis, MN where Bill worked for Newell, Inc. for over twenty years. They then moved back to Watertown.
Elinor passed away and Bill continued to live in Watertown. He married Maxine Knodel on November 25, 1998, in Milbank, SD and the couple lived in Watertown.
Bill was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.
He is survived by his wife, Maxine, of Watertown, SD; nieces: Pat (Scott) Carter and Carol (Kevin) Robertson all of Grand Forks, ND, Terry (Joe) Piatz of Aberdeen, SD, and Mary (Dwayne) Baer of Beresford, SD; one nephew, Jim (Sharon) Dunkel of Fargo, ND; Step-children: Jeffrey (Emma) Andersen of Badger, SD, Monica (Don) Barker of Bryant, SD, and Jay (Ruth) Andersen of Lake Norden, SD; two sisters-in-law: Grace Dunkel of Aberdeen, SD and Gerri (Lee) Bruchhof of Fargo, ND; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; four great-nieces and nephews; and one great-great-niece.
Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Elinor; his parents; two brothers, Robert Dunkel and Harley D. Dunkel; and one sister, Marcella Dunkel.
Graveside services will be at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen, SD. Military Graveside honors will be provided by the SD National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team.
Visitation will be at Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with a prayer service conducted by Rev. Keith Petersen at 11:00 a.m.