Staff Report
On August 15, 2026, at the age of 88, Verna Dean Mardell Michalk Kunkel(Deanie) passed away peacefully at home. Verna was born in Bishop, Texas, to Edwin Emil Michalk and Lorene Louise Grebe on February 18, 1938.
At a young age, Verna's father started calling her Deanie Dell. The first name stuck. It was a good time to grow up in Bishop. It was a small south Texas town where Deanie, and her sister Jeanette, were surrounded by family from both sides. She enjoyed her social life at Bishop High School where she participated in many clubs and was a cheerleader, homecoming queen, and Lantana duchess. When she started classes at Texas A&I in Kingsville after high school graduation, she went on a double date and met the love of her life, who was not her date.
Nolan and Deanie were married just shy of 63 years before Nolan's passing in 2022. She always said they got along so well because they had similar backgrounds. They were both from small towns, they came from humble means, and they were both Lutheran. After living in Eatontown, NJ, where their son Mark was born and San Antonio, Texas, where their daughter Kim was born, Nolan moved the family to Buda to take a job as the Agriculture teacher at Buda High School.
Nolan and Deanie fell in love with Buda and quickly made many lifelong friends. After three years in Buda, Nolan took an Agriculture teaching job in George West, Texas. They lived there for 6 years, where their son Darren was born and, sadly, passed away. When they moved the family back to Buda for Nolan to become the principal of Buda Elementary they felt they were home. They never wanted to leave Buda again, and they didn't. Deanie and Nolan joined Buda Methodist Church and became active members. Deanie started working for the Hays Consolidated School District as an aide. She was involved with many school-sponsored groups as well as many civic groups. She was a member of the Buda Women's Club, a group who helped start the first public library in Buda. She was also a volunteer to help Budafest get started.
After retirement in 1996, she and Nolan, having already retired, travelled in the U.S. and in Europe. Many travel memories were made with their friends Bob and Judy Presley.
At home, Deanie enjoyed working in the yard, enjoying the flora and fauna on the homestead, entertaining, and visiting with friends and family, especially her grandchildren. She will be remembered for her laughter, twinkling blue eyes, and her sweet nature mixed with a little sassiness.
Deanie is survived by her daughter Kim (Rene), daughter-in-law Rhonda, sister Jeanette (Gordon), as well as many nieces and nephews. As 'Meme' she will be missed by her grandchildren Preston and Emma Kunkel and Quinton and Lauren Rodriguez.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 10th at 1:00 pm at Buda Methodist Church. A reception at the church will follow.
Deanie had a great love of flowers. The family also welcomes memorial donations to Buda United Methodist Church at budaumc.org or 302 Elm Street, Buda, TX 78610.
