Jan Bunge

Jan Bunge, 90, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2017 in Bremen, Indiana. Jan was born June 11, 1927 to Everett A. and Hallie (Kratzer) Shockley in Kokomo, Indiana. She grew up on a farm during the Great Depression but had only happy stories of family and faith. After graduating from Kokomo High School, she attended the University of Indianapolis (then Indiana Central College), where she met and married her husband Don J. Bunge. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past April. She is survived by her husband; her five children; Susan (David) Henry, Cynthia (Michael) Miley, Melinda (Jesse) McIntosh, Shayne (James) Burns, and D. Jay Bunge, Jr; her eight grandchildren; Brenna (Lt. Col. William) Sands, Brooke Davis, Nephi Jay Henry, Margaret (Gregory) Miley-Touney, Jed (Tanei) Henry, Matthew Miley, Jordan (Elise) Henry, and Jay McIntosh; and her eight great-grandchildren; Will, Sam, Hallie, and Adele Sands, Nohea, Mei, and Eli Henry, and Lennox Greeley. Her parents and her sister, Marjorie Perkins, preceded her in death. Jan was a devoted wife and mother who enriched the lives of her family and friends. She was always quick with a song, a story, a smile, or a pie. She was an accomplished seamstress, athlete, musician, writer, and cook. Her mission was to nourish: when she learned of an illness or a death in a Bremen family, she appeared at the door with a meal. She enjoyed sharing her musical talent by singing in the church choir and playing Ragtime on the piano. She even chose the tune and wrote the lyrics to the Bremen Middle School Fight Song. Jan loved the outdoors, the sunshine, and the beach, whether it be at Lake Michigan, in Florida, at Crooked Lake, or simply on her back porch swing at her home in Bremen. She was an avid distance runner who often won road races in her age category. As she said, “I’m often the ONLY ONE in my age category.” At the age of 79, she finished the 15 K Blueberry Stomp race. A proud supporter of Bremen Schools and The Long Green Line, she was happy to say that she never missed a Bremen football game. Her husband Don was the football coach at Bremen for many years, and after every home game she hosted the assistant coaches and their wives, win or lose. (It was always a happier party after the “wins”). She was a member of the Bremen United Methodist Church, and the single most important thing to her was to make sure her family went to church every Sunday. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm, Friday, October 27, 2017 in Mishler Funeral Home, 2030 St. Rd. 331, Bremen. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 28, 2017 in Bremen United Methodist Church, 302 Plymouth St., Bremen. A private family burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Bremen United Methodist Church Daycare, 302 Plymouth St., Bremen, IN 46506.