James Mead Bunger

Jim was born in Kingsburg, California just weeks before the “Great Crash of ’29”. His Depression-era childhood in a small farming community taught him much about self-reliance and thrift. That small town upbringing also gave Jim a lifelong sense of the value of community, friendship, and a deep-seated commitment to fighting for fair treatment for all.

A multi-sport athlete in high school, Jim would go on to play football at San Diego State College and San Francisco State College. In between those collegiate experiences, Jim served America as an Army National Guard Sergeant First Class in the 746th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. His crew tended to an emplacement at Fort Cronkite in Marin County during the Korean Conflict.

While still in the service, Jim met a native San Franciscan and fell in love. He married Madeleine Keller on August 29, 1952 at San Francisco’s Notre Dame des Victoires Church.

Jim’s boyhood near the Sierra Nevada and his extended family’s life in Colorado were the root of his affection for the outdoors. He may not have caught the most trout, but it’s doubtful anyone was ever happier standing by a rushing stream with a fly rod.

Mixing his GI Bill benefits and income from a series of jobs, Jim worked his way through college, leaving San Francisco State with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a teaching credential. His first teaching position was at Campbell High School, where he taught PE and driver training and coached football, basketball, and baseball.

Jim and Madeleine lived for eight years in a small house in Los Gatos, surrounded by prune and apricot orchards. By 1964, the house was too small for a growing family (eventually five children), so they moved to a larger home in San Jose’s Cambrian Park district where Jim would live for the next fifty years. “Dinner’s ready” was often announced by a blast of Jim’s well-worn coaching whistle, summoning the kids from wherever they were playing in the neighborhood.

Jim returned to college to obtain a master’s degree in Counseling from San Jose State University, and would work as a counselor at Blackford and Branham High Schools in the Campbell Union High School District before retiring—though “retirement” was a concept that never really “took” with Jim.

Until the final months of his long life, he gave back to his community. Over the course of many years, Jim was an active member and leader of numerous organizations. He drove trains and managed operations for the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, became a master restorer of railroad cars and board member at the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, was the “go-to” guy in the electronics department at the Unicorn Thrift Shop, and was the senior member of The Cats Community Jazz Band, where Jim’s love of swing music and his youthful experience as a trombonist came full circle.

Over his 95 years, Jim explored many interests. He fixed cars (and pretty much everything else), he gardened (boysenberries might have been his favorite crop), he remodeled houses, he fished, he sailed San Francisco Bay, he traveled (by train whenever possible, and to France, where Madeleine’s family embraced him) and he followed sports. He was an avid reader and held his own in the family Wordle circle until his final days.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Madeleine, as well as his older sister Jeanne. He is survived by his sister Louise and brother Fred, as well as his five children: Stan (Tharon), Dave (Tracy), Brian (Sherri), Craig (Mary) and Shirley (Todd). Jim leaves behind grandchildren Brenley, Geoff, Sarah, Benjamin, Eli and Jim as well as great-grandchildren Jolee and Beau. Jim also leaves behind Ness, his devoted Labrador/Golden Retriever cross.