Jerold James "Jed" "Porky" Gunnink, 68, Edgerton, died Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at his home in Edgerton.Services were Saturday, May 21, at First Reformed Church in Edgerton. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton. Jerold Gunnink was born to Gerrit and Henrietta (Menning) Gunnink on Aug. 24, 1936, on the family farm north of Leota. He was raised on the farm and attended Christian Grade School in Edgerton. He married Janet Bosch on June 16, 1958, in Steen. He worked for Hanson Silo in Luverne before his employment with Central Telephone Company He retired from the phone company in June 1993 and moved from Lakeville to Browns Valley. They moved to their present home in Edgerton in 1996. On March 29 he was admitted to the hospital in Casa Grande, Ariz. He was later transferred to the hospital in Rochester for radiation treatment. He returned to his home in Edgerton on Friday, April 22. Mr. Gunnink was a member of Edgerton Protestant Reformed Church, Edgerton First Reformed Church, Riverside Reformed Church in Bloomington, Valley Community Church in Prior Lake, and Sunscape Chapel, Casa Grade. He served on numerous church boards. He was past president of ITPA Telephone Company and the Pioneer Telephone Company. He served on the fire department in Casa Grande and the First Responders Paramedic Team. He also volunteered to help Special Olympics as well as other special associations such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation. He enjoyed camping, fishing, reading and spending winters in Arizona. Survivors include his wife, Janet Gunnink, Edgerton; four children, Paula (Joe) Lattimore, Elysian, Linda (Keith) Hahn, Scott Gunnink, all of Lakeville, and David (Mary) Gunnink, Apple Valley; four grandchildren, Anna and Tyler Hahn, Lakeville, Sandra Lattimore, Lonsdale, and Stacie (Tom) Lobitz, Norwood Young America; two great-grandchildren, Keyth and Mckayla Lobitz, Norwood Young America; and seven brothers and sisters, Bernard (Karen) Gunnink, Hardwick, Betty (Harvey) Ross, Tucson, Ariz., John (Kim) Gunnink, Glen "Corky" (Irene) Gunnink, all of Edgerton, Duane (Cheryl) Gunnink, Caledonia, Mich., Julia Ann (Larry) Hanson, Alamosa, Colo., and Darwin (Peggy) Gunnink, Aztec, N.M. Mr. Gunnink was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Arthur and Henry.Colonial Funeral Home in Edgerton was in charge of arrangements.
