Marylen Kroesche Dunk

Marylen Kroesche Dunk went to be with her God on September 4, 2025, at the age of 102. She was born on November 30, 1922 (Thanksgiving Day), in Seguin, Texas, to Oscar and Isabel Kroesche. The family moved to San Antonio in 1929. Marylen graduated from St. Gerard’s High School in 1940, and attended Draughon’s Business College. She married the love of her life, Walter Dunk, on October 16, 1948, and they spent 42 happy years together. Marylen’s greatest pride was their seven children and their families. While their children were growing up, she alternated being room mother for all of them at St. Leo’s Catholic School. She was also a volunteer in the school library.

Marylen was a 5th-generation Texan, and was the family genealogist, writing biographies of her parents, father-in-law, husband, and her own autobiography. She was a member of the Comal County Genealogical Society. Marylen loved to write, keeping in touch with friends from the Philippine Islands, her husband’s relatives in Germany and in the U.S., former teachers (School Sisters of Notre Dame), and many lifelong friends. She was instrumental in organizing St. Gerard’s Alumni monthly luncheons for over 60 years. Marylen was a devout Catholic. Over the years, she was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, the St. John Neumann Altar Guild, the St. John Neumann Women’s Club, and the Cardinal Gibbons Literary Club of San Antonio.

Her family loved her dearly, and everyone always looked forward to their joyous gatherings at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Her home would burst at the seams with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All were welcome. People just wanted to be around her. Marylen’s lovely smile was contagious, and she never met a stranger. She gave the best hugs! She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be missed by all who were blessed to have known and loved her.

Marylen is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sons, Gerard and Robert; daughter-in-law, Sylvia; brothers, Oscar Kroesche, Jr., and Joseph Kroesche; and granddaughter, Ashlee Dunk Elliot. She is survived by four sons, Walter Jr. (Rose), Dennis (Julia), Ronald (Cathy), and Stephen (Kathryn); daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Dean); daughter-in-law, Lavette; sister, Claire Beall; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to give special thanks to Fr. Alex Pereida, pastor of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, for his love, comfort, and counsel to our dear Mom and to our family during this difficult time. We are so grateful to all of the good people at Mystic Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Bristol Hospice for their dedicated care over the last year and a half. We also thank the wonderful souls from the Prince of Peace Catholic Church nursing home ministry for praying the rosary with her and for bringing her the Holy Eucharist every Tuesday.

Pallbearers are Walter Dunk, Jr., Dennis Dunk, Ronald Dunk, Stephen Dunk, Jeremy Dunk (Gerard), and Brian Dunk (Robert). Honorary Pallbearers are her grandsons and her granddaughters. Visitation will be held at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78218 on Sunday, September 21 at 5:00 pm, followed by recitation of the rosary at 7:00 pm. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 6680 Crestway Dr., San Antonio, TX 78239 on Monday, September 22 at 11:30 am. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Edwin Stecher Endowment Fund at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.