Glen Eli Bunnell

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father,Glen Eli Bunnell, in his 84th year, due to complications following a heart attack. Glen died at home with his partner of twenty-four years, Valerie Brundage, by his side. He leaves behind his brother,John (Sally) Bunnell,niece, Debbie Bunnell, nephews, Chuck and Mike Bunnell, nephew, Hugh Wood; his four children, William Eli (Kim) Bunnell, Betsy (Shane) Looby, Brenda (Chris) Heck, and Bonnie (Mike) Pierce. Grandchildren, Jake Ramsey, Sofia Looby, Mike Kochemba, Jessica Kochemba, Joseph Kochemba, Robin Pierce, Abby Bunnell, Sylvia Bunnell, Hanna Bunnell, Raina Bunnell, Garrett Bunnell, Justine Bunnell and Glen Bunnell will have fond memories of their grandfather. Born October eighth, Nineteen-thirty two in Willoughby, Ohio, to parents, William and Lillian Bunnell, Dad grew up with an appreciation for the value of hard work and self sufficiency. He always had the can do attitude and was still out shoveling dirt and slinging gravel a week before he got sick. He didn’t have to work hard, he just liked it. If he could be out in the woods cutting firewood he was happy. He spent much of his time doing just that. When the sun went down or it was raining hard, Dad loved to read. An avid reader for the whole time we knew him he would devour books of many subjects. He knew if you didn’t know how to do something it was in a book somewhere. Along with many of his friends from Willoughby Dad served his country in the Army in Korea. He found a bright side to that part of his life. He thought Korea was a beautiful country. That was all he had to say about that. Into his seventies Dad enjoyed scuba diving in Lake Erie, in addition to fishing. If you showed up at his house near August or September you better bring a big box or the like to take home vegetables from his garden. Bee keeping, mead, raspberry wine, pick some elderberries and make some jam. Dad knew all his neighbors too. He knew all our neighbors in Willoughby and when we moved to Williamsfield, Ohio, he knew everyone on the street. He liked people. I recall a time we were on the launching ramp in Conneaut, Ohio, ready to embark on a day of fishing. An elderly gentlemen was milling about the dock early in the morning sipping an unknown substance from a hidden bottle boldly inquiring about the possibility of coming aboard to fish. He did not have fishing gear or appear to really be interested in fishing, but Dad engaged him in conversation and invited him along. It turned out he had suffered a personal loss in his life recently and was just looking for some companionship. As it turned out he was as fine a gentlemen as anyone could be at twenty-five miles out on Lake Erie with six-foot waves pounding the bow. Up side......Four walleye. One sea sick crew member. One of my buddies--not the elderly gentleman. We had quite a few nice days like that on the lake. Under the lake as well, diving to see what we might come across. Mostly a bunch of perch net anchors lost over the years. Good stuff. The day it was raining so hard driving down the road you couldn’t see the hood ornament but a woman with a flat tire standing outside her car with soaked hair. She never said a word as he changed her tire. It was ok though. Dad would help anybody he could. Dad always wanted to go to Alaska and give the "back to nature" life a try. With a growing family he decided to opt a little closer to Ohio and he bought five acres in Williamsfield, Ohio. Together with his wife, Karen, and us kids Dad built the family home. It was in Williamsfield that Dad was able to pursue the simple pleasures of country living that he so desired. Dad made a living driving a semi-truck over the road, and after spending long hours on the road each week he would come home and work on his many projects. He took pride in creating his own refuge from the hustle and bustle of the outside world digging ponds for fishing, planting various fruit trees and berries on the property. Dad stayed true to his values in a world that values conformity over individualism. He was a no-nonsense, straight shooter who couldn’t tolerate showiness for the sake of self-importance. We will miss you Dad!

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