Alan Douglas “Doug” Zunkel died peacefully with family by his side on April 9, 2014 in his Vancouver home. His life is celebrated by family, friends, and colleagues around the country and the world.
Doug was born on May 3, 1941 in Bethany, Missouri as the eldest son of Kenneth and Ezma Zunkel. Doug grew up in Princeton, Illinois with his younger brother, David, and was a standout student and athlete.
He was the salutatorian of his class and the captain of the football team. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout. After Doug graduated from Princeton High School, he went west to attend the Colorado School of Mines. During college, Doug was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and served the chapter proudly as President. He graduated from the Missouri School of Mines in 1964 with a bachelor’s of science degree in metallurgical engineering.
Doug returned to the Colorado School of Mines in 1964 and earned his master’s degree and his doctor of science degree in 1967. Doug was a United States Army veteran, serving honorably from 1967 to 1969. In the Army, Doug attained the rank of Captain and worked on NASA’s Apollo lunar module. After his tenure in the Army, Doug began a long and illustrious career in the precious metals industry.
Described by his granddaughter Bonnie as the smartest man she knew, Doug worked for and consulted for Fortune 500 companies, including Exxon, and many prestigious law firms around the country.
Doug was a highly sought after precious metals expert who loved his work. He established A.D. Zunkel Consultants, Inc. in 1986 and worked up until the week of his passing. Doug belonged to numerous technical and professional societies, including the Society of Mining Engineers, the Metallurgical Society, and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He served as a trustee of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers from 1987 to 1988 and was the President of the Metallurgical Society in 1987. Doug generously established the John P. Hager Undergraduate Scholarship Fund at the Colorado School of Mines to support students in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
Doug was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers fan, a golf enthusiast, a world traveler, a tremendous chef, and an expert on the genealogy of the Zunkel family. He was also a life member of the Philatelist Society.
Doug is survived by his loving wife Olivia Ann, his daughter Lea Ann, his son Ken, his brother David, his granddaughter Bonnie, his niece Erica, and his nephew Mark. He has reunited with his beloved father-in-law, George “Pop” Baker, in heaven.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to Hospice or Essex United Methodist Church.
Graveside services will be conducted at 3:00 P.M., Monday April 14, 2014 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield with full military honors.
Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home of Dexter in charge of arrangements.
