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Frank H. Bunker

February 2nd, 1935 - September 28th, 2015

Frank's Obituary

Dr. Frank H. Bunker, M.D. died Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at his home in Perry, Mich., after an extended illness. He was 80 and had suffered from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease for several years. Dr. Bunker was born on Feb. 2, 1935 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He was a 1956 graduate of the University of Maryland and graduated from the University Of Puerto Rico School Of Medicine in 1960. Later that year, Dr. Bunker continued his medical training, serving as an intern of then-Wayne County General Hospital in Wayne, Mich. Dr. Bunker was a Lieutenant of the United States Naval Reserve (today the United States Navy Reserve). He served as a physician on active duty with the United States Navy from 1962-1964, stationed at Crane Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, Ind. After completing his active military service, Dr. Bunker returned to Wayne County General and served as a resident and then chief resident in internal medicine. Upon completing his residency in 1966, Dr. Bunker opened a private practice in Benton Harbor, Mich. He also served patients as a member of the staff of three then-independent hospitals in Berrien County: Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, and Pawating Hospital in Niles. Dr. Bunker is recognized for his work to modernize the practice of medicine in Southwest Michigan, helping introduce innovative tools and therapies to detect and treat heart and cardiovascular disease. He founded a heart catheterization laboratory and clinic, serving patients suffering from blocked coronary arteries and other disorders. He also was among the first to implant cardiac pacemakers to help regulate patients’ heartbeats in western Michigan. During various periods, Dr. Bunker served as chief of staff at the hospitals in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, helping them develop new collaborations which would help lead to their merger as Mercy Memorial Medical Center. The hospital partnership would continue to evolve, joining with Pawating Hospital to become Lakeland Regional Health System, which now provides health care to the people of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. Dr. Bunker was a member of the American Medical Association, a 1968 Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and certified by the ABIM in Interventional Cardiology in 1972. He served as president of the Berrien County Medical Society. He also was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. One of Dr. Bunker’s favorite pastimes was reading, particularly enjoying history, humor and genealogy. His family is descended from Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War, including ancestors made famous by the Battle of Bunker Hill. He also enjoyed fishing, music, model railroads, and watching sunsets over Lake Michigan. Dr. Bunker is survived by his wife, Joan A. L. Bunker of Perry; his son, Frank (Melissa) J. Bunker of Grosse Pointe Woods; daughters, Myrtelisa Bunker-Schumacher (Kevin Schumacher) of East Lansing and Isabel Hershey of Lansing; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; his sister Elie Martinez (Raul) of Sunnyvale, Calif.; niece Anna Elisa Jacoby (Ken) of Fremont, Calif.; nephew David Martinez (Shari) of San Jose, Calif.; his aunt, Mary Bunker Ray of Myerstown, Pa.; many cousins, including Ana May Bunker Salgado (Paul) of West Bloomfield and Gladys Calderon Bunker (Victor) in Northville; stepsons William J. Greenhoe of Ovid, Dale A. Greenhoe (Tawnya) of Ovid, stepdaughters Julie Rose Atwood (Greg) of Ovid and Laura Jane Ann Miller (Scott) of Elsie, 11 stepgrandchildren and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by stepgrandson Nicholas W. Greenhoe; and by his wife, Louanne Bunker, with whom he had stepsons Scott Felgner and Ryan Felgner of Grand Rapids; and stepdaughter Cara Felgner of Berrien Springs; and three stepgrandchildren.  Friends may visit with the family Friday, Oct. 16, from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9-10 a.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph.  Celebration of Life Services will be Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel.  Burial will follow with Military Rites conducted by North Berrien Military Rites Team at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, Twin City Area Chapter, 175 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, Mich., 49022.  Those wishing to sign Dr. Bunker’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

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