Memorial set for local veterinarian
A memorial service is scheduled for local veterinarian Dr. Jim Kunkel, who died October 26, 2020. The service will be held Saturday May 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at his former clinic at 1830 S. William Street in Atlanta.
James Mark (Doc) Kunkel was born in Stillwater, OK on December 22, 1953 to Muriel and Merlin Kunkel while his father was attending veterinary school at Oklahoma State University. Most of Jim’s early school years were spent in Manning, IA where his dad practiced veterinary medicine on rural farms and small animal medicine out of the basement of the family home.
In 1968, Jim’s family moved to Texarkana where he finished high school graduating from Texas High School in 1972. Jim received his Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A & M University in College Station and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oklahoma State University. After graduating from vet school, Jim practiced in Kentucky and Missouri before returning to Texarkana to work with his dad in his veterinary practice.
In 1997 Jim purchased his own veterinary clinic in Atlanta where he practiced for the last 23 years. Jim was known in the four states area as one of the few exotic animal vets. He treated a wide range of animals from turtles and hawks to snakes, iguanas and emus.
He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, served as a counselor at Camp Pioneer, and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Texarkana where he served his congregation as president and as an elder for many years. He was also a member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Jim left behind literally thousands of pets that depended on him for their health, as well as many friends and family members. Although most people called him Doc, to his nieces and nephews he was “Uncle Kunkel” and to grandkids he was “Pappadoc”.
Survivors include: his wife, Jan Rogers Kunkel, his sisters: Dr. Jean (Allan)Thomas of Lewiston, ID; Julie (Mark) Patterson of Texarkana, and Bev (Don Schrader) of Cheyenne, WY; his nieces: Emily (Ben) Ayers of Asheville, NC and Hannah Patterson of Texarkana; Uncle Roland Kunkel of Lakeland, FL; nephews: Graeme Thomas of Austin, TX, Gabriel Thomas of Eugene, OR, and Eli Thomas of Lewiston, ID; and Conner Patterson of Texarkana; great-nephews: Will and Drew Ayers; Jan’s children: Stephanie Collins and her children-Trent and Ashley Hancock of Tucson, AZ; Jan’s son, Eric Collins and his son Cooper Collins of Scottsdale, AZ; brother and sister-in-law: Johnny and Jeanette Rogers of Texarkana and a special cousin Gaylen Oppel of Watonga, OK.
Friend and colleague, Mitzi Francis, is asking those attending the memorial to bring a lawn chair to sit in, and a bag of dog food to be donated, in his memory, to the many rescues he has helped.