Donald W. Juntunen: “So blessed to have you for as long as we did”

Donald Wayne Juntunen passed away on July 4, 2021 surrounded by his family in Yerington,  Nevada.

He was born in Perth, North Dakota  on December 11, 1929 to Nestor and Vivian Juntunen of Rolla, North Dakota and he was oldest of three sons.

Donald will be reunited with his wife of 50 years June Juntunen along with his parents, brother Douglas Juntunen and daughter Janice Kurtek Morris. He leaves behind his best friend Ellie his little dog; brother Harold (Natsoya) Juntunen  in Lacey, Washington; nephew Michael (Sara) Juntunen and great nephew Justin Juntunen in WA.  Daughters Lynn (Terry) Rhodes in Dallas, Oregon; Donna (Bill) McDonald in Yerington, Nevada; Debbie Morris in Yerington NV;   Sons Chuck (Karen)Kurtek  in South Carolina;  Ronald (Anna) Kurtek in Anaheim, CA. Grandchildren Michelle (Jason) Johnsonn in OR; Jacob Sergi in Colorado; Daniel Morris in CO;  Leatha Morris in CO;  Charles Kurtek in CA; Christina  Kurtek Gomez  in CA;  Natalie Collier in CA;  Joshua Morris in CA;  Nathan Morris (Vera) in CA;  Crystal (Brian) White in NV; Shannon Juntunen Trunk (Michael)  in NV; Brittany McDonald in NV; and Matthew McDonald in NV; and 19 Great Grandchildren.

Donald was a veteran and served in the US Air Force after graduating High School in Rolla, North Dakota. After leaving the Air Force he went to work for Western Union in Tucson, Arizona where he met the love of his life, June. They married and relocated to La Puente, California where he worked for Western Union Los Angeles office until he relocated with Western Union to New Jersey then to Elgin, Illinois.  He retired from Western Union in California and moved to the Placerville area.

Donald was a long-time member of the Masonic Lodge becoming a Mason in 1965 in La Puente, California. He then went on to become a very active member of the Eastern Star with wife June where they served as worthy Matron and worthy Patron of the Placerville chapter.  He was a member of the Shriners in Elgin, Illinois, San Jose  and Sacramento, California. He was a long-time member of the Placerville Masonic Lodge 26.  He was also member of the Lions Club of Pollock Pines, California.

Donald and June relocated to Yerington, Nevada in 2002 from Placerville and soon became a regular at Dini’s Lucky Club. Don enjoyed fishing and loved baseball, often managing to make great grandchildren’s ball games, along with dance recitals, band performances and school events.  He was loved very much and will be missed every day.

His service will be July 24, 2021 at the Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home in Yerington Nevada at 10:00 am with a lunch to follow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints in Yerington, NV.  Private family interment will be held at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Family and friends are invited to sign his online guest book at www.FRFh.net

Donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children in memory of Donald W Juntunen @https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-2911