Roland D. Dunckel

He is preceded in death by his parents; his 6 brothers and 2 sisters; his wife of 58 years, Barbara Elma Chase; three children: Roland Douglas Dunckel II, Scott Douglas Dunckel, Deborah Sue Oglesbee; son-in-laws: Douglas Cook and Ray Oglesbee; and one grandchild, Mark Mills Dunckel. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Ann Cook (Conroe, TX); his son, Kevin Lee Dunckel Sr. and wife Gloria (Clarksville, MD); 11 grandchildren: Missy, Kim, Steve, Chris, Tiffany, Amber, Clinton, Jennifer, Ashley, Kevin Jr., Kenny; 22 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; along with many nieces, nephews and so many other friends and relatives.

Roland was born and raised in Williamston, Michigan, the son of Stanley and Alida Dunckel. He graduated from Williamston High School, where in 1940 his high school basketball team won the State Class “C” Championship. Along with his twin brother, Oland, he and his team were later inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

He met his beloved wife, Barbara, his senior year at a school dance and they were married in 1944. In 1943 he had joined the Army Air Force, where he was a Corporal and served as a radio mechanic during WWII. Afterward he attended Michigan State University and Lansing Business College, majoring in business accounting.

In January 1960, he moved to Iowa to work as a controller and assistant hospital administrator for Broadlawns Community Hospital and in 1968 accepted the position of hospital administrator at Northwest Hospital, building one of the finest Obstetrician wards in Iowa. In 1974 the family moved to Texas to reunite with family and he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service where he eventually retired in 1988. He took pride in his family, was involved in the Presbyterian church, the scouting program and coached baseball for his sons. He was most admired for his kindness and for the generosity of time spent with his wife, volunteering to raise funds and walls for local hospitals, abused women's centers and other needy organizations.

Upon retiring, Roland and Barbara chose to spend their summer months in Clare, Michigan on Lake 13 and their winter months in their golfing community in Chiefland, Florida where Roland was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Chiefland Country Club. He played golf regularly until he was 95. He served as President of the Board for Springside Retirement Community, was a volunteer at Manatee Springs State Park, and a member of the Hardeetown Baptist Church. He was a faithful servant for the Lord, a proud veteran, and an all-around sports fanatic, especially for the Detroit Lions, the Spartans and most other Michigan teams. He also enjoyed playing cards along with spending time with grandchildren and teaching them how to swim, fish, and drive a boat, but mostly honoring his word to them which earned him a special place in their hearts.

Roland will be laid to rest in the family cemetery not far from his birth site. Visitation will be held Saturday, September 26, 2020, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes in Williamston, Michigan after which a graveside service will immediately follow at Rowley Cemetery in Williamston.

The family would like to thank the staff at Woodhaven Village Senior Living and Devotion Hospice for their loving and graceful care of our father/grandfather.

Flowers can be sent to 205 E. Middle Street, Williamston, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local dementia facility or a hospice near you.