Posted on 05/31/2015 9:13:36 AM PDT by golux
To the memory of Free Republic’s “Kenny Bunk.”
Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13, 1-2
Our FRiend Kenny Bunk passed away this weekend.
He had many compatriots and admirers here, and so I thought I would tell you a little more about him, in order that you might in a small way celebrate his life as I do.
Kenny knew the classics (or the western canon, generally) inside and out, and was a focused, passionate student of ancient and modern history. His raw knowledge and patriot’s heart allowed him to know himself and his world – our world – through a powerful trans-historical scope with ‘individual liberty’ at the center of the cross-hairs.
We all know patriots for whom these intellectual qualities, in the context of our general enslavement and dependence, result in a degree of constant personal misery. For Kenny they added a delightful depth to his natural levity. Kenny was very smart, and very, very funny.
Kenny loved people – individuals of all kinds – and loved making them happy. No matter if he was in a great hurry (or if his companions were!), he would always notice when someone else was having a bad day, engage them in any number of languages and across any racial or sociocultural boundary, and proceed to “fix.” Sometimes he helped them with a task, sometimes he complimented them or their work in some way, and sometimes he just plain entertained them in his quirky, gentlemanly, magnetic way, but he always succeeded.
How many checkout girls, waiters, attendants, and others who crossed his path he left smiling with their “days made” can never be counted. He did it all the time, every day. In white bucks and a blue blazer he would notice a yard worker was having problems with a mower, would walk over and share a few jokes in Spanish with the guy, then get on his knees and fix the thing.
Kenny Bunk could fix just about anything with materials on-hand, from a bad mood to a shattered mid-pressure oil line on the back of a diesel engine. This he did, in my presence, in jacket-and-tie, underway in the Chesapeake on a snowy, dressy, Christmas champagne cruise in mid-December. The oil line aft had simply shattered along a three inch section, and naturally there was no replacement of this peculiar part on the boat. So Kenny took the body of a metal pen, lined it with some high-temp rubber he deftly shaved off a fuel line, secured the whole business with an array of hose clamps, re-filled oil, started the engine and had another sip of champagne. He did MacGyver stuff like that all the time. I know, because we sailed many thousands of miles in and offshore, and enjoyed many dangerous and delightful adventures together.
I paint a picture of a very William F. Buckley sort of character. He was very much that in character and countenance; coincidentally as a younger man he took care of WFB’s (bowsprit-nosed) sailboat, CYRANO. I am pleased to imagine the Heavenly crew reunited in the cockpit over a decent “high church” whiskey.
Kenny Bunk was Christ-like in many ways. He did difficult good deeds daily, he loved God and prayed with some frequency, he was selfless generally, and joyfully, happily sacrificed much of his time and energies for others.
But he could also cuss at a truly super-human level. Somehow, a combination of Catholic schools, time turning wrenches, a lost love or two, world-travel including substantial time in the middle east, and hard knocks at sea turned this angel into a man capable of creating, in words, scenes so extraordinarily blasphemous, and so impossibly imaginative as to make the devil himself blush. Attempt to assist Kenny when he’s trying to crack a frozen lug-nut and you’ll soon be doubled over in tears of laughter!
Many is the time his zesty imagination and powerful mind left us wiping away tears.
You were part of the crew, too. You and Free Republic were an important part of his life. I hope you will pause for a moment in the next days to raise a glass to him.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
My dear friend
“Kenny Bunk” aka BIG FRANK
And may we meet again in His eternal Kingdom.
Beloved, you are faithful in all that you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to help them in a way worthy of God as they continue their journey. (3 Jn 1:5-6)
Prayers to Kenny Bunk's family and friends.
Rest in peace, Kenny...
Rest in peace, brother FReeper.
Leni
A truely special man
RIP
Thanks for telling us more about KennyBunk. May he rest in peace, and may God console his family and friends.
God bless.
bump
Can you write a eulogy for me and make me sound as good?
RIP Kenny Bunk
I enjoyed his posts and am saddened at his passing.
RIP Kenny. 1st I heard of this.
We will meet when we all go to Heaven.
God bless, and prayers for the family.
‘Pod.
Even before your kind words we knew Kenny Bunk was the kind of guy we would want living next door.
Now that he is beyond reach - at least for the moment - we wish we knew even more about him.
Oh nooooo!!! I always thought he was the funniest poster ever. Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to hear this.
Was he sick?
May he rest in peace, and may the Lord bless and comfort his family and friends.
Mourning the loss of a wonderful person. Great sense of humor with a unique writing style.
Prayers of comfort for loved ones.
His passing is very sad news; he was one of my favorite posters to read. When I first joined FR, I read one of his posts and responded to it by personal email. I did not expect a reply, but to my surprise, I ended up in an engaging correspondence that I will always treasure. His insight, humor, and wisdom always seemed generously given. His opinions and knowledge were expressed with robust enthusiasm that suggested the voice of a young man.
There are and have been many Freepers that I admire, I will remember Frank as a special compatriot like the many Freepers I continue to follow without comment. It is an honor and privilege to have gotten to learn about Frank if only through his words, and through the observations of those who are commenting.
He will be missed.
RIP
Thanks for the touching obit. God Bless him and keep him close. God Bless his friends and family.
Prayers.
He will be missed.
Beautiful tribute. So sorry to hear of Kenny’s passing. Prayers for all who loved him.
Thanks for the fine words.
RIP
My deepest condolences to you and all of those who were fortunate enough to know this wonderful man.
"Farewell to Thee! But not farewell
To all my fondest thoughts of Thee;
Within my heart they still shall dwell
And they shall cheer and comfort me.
Life seems more sweet that Thou didst live
And men more true Thou wert one;
Nothing is lost that Thou didst give,
Nothing destroyed that Thou hast done."
~Anne Bronte
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