Dena Junker

Dena L. Junker age 92 of Nashua, IA, died Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Clarksville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clarksville, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2019, at the Community United Methodist Church in Clarksville with Rev. Joan Thomas presiding. Private interment will be in the Allison City Cemetery. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory - Olson Chapel in Nashua. Dena Lucille Junker was born August 23, 1926, on the Endelman family farm near Clarksville, IA. She was one of nine children born to Charles and Martha (Hinrichs) Endelman. She received her education in the Jefferson #5 Schoolhouse just south of Clarksville. She was baptized in the Christian faith and later confirmed on March 17, 1940, at St. James Lutheran Church in Allison. Dena lost both her parents in her younger years and she helped care for the needs of their large family. On May 4, 1951, at St. James Lutheran Church, Allison, she married Alvin George Junker. To this union, four children were born. Dena was again baptized as an adult at Calvary Baptist Church in Parkersburg on April 22, 1962. The couple initially farmed in rural Butler County, later moving near Nashua in Chickasaw County. Dena and Alvin’s lives’ were forever changed when their oldest son, Wendell was tragically killed in an auto/train accident on October 15, 1971. Dena taught herself to knit, crochet and do quilting and she shared her talents with her entire family. Since she began cooking at such a young age, she continually increased her skills and became an excellent cook and caretaker for her family. She loved having her family for Sunday Dinners and trying new recipes from her many cookbooks. Dena enjoyed being on the farm and loved all the animals, especially their cats. While her family was growing, She and Alvin took them on many fishing trips to northern Minnesota and Canada. She will be dearly remembered by her family as she treasured the time spent with them. Survivors include two daughters, Marlene (Ric) Sowers of Fredericksburg, Sheryl (Lew) Lindner of Clarksville; one son, Bryan (Mary) Junker of Greene, IA; four grandchildren, Matthew (Melissa) Sowers, Kaleb Junker, Katelyn Junker, Karter Junker; one great-granddaughter, Mara Sowers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin on June 9, 2006; her son, Wendell Junker; one grandson, Justin Lindner; five sisters, Florence Schrage, Anna Negen, Marian Wilkens, Tena Wilkens, Margery Endelman; three brothers, Seibert Endelman, Harry Endelman, and a brother in infancy.