Chris Wunderlich III

Chris (Buck) Wunderlich III, of Gilbert, AZ passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2024, in Chandler, AZ.

Chris was born in O’Neill, Nebraska on August 3, 1939, to Chris and Geneva (Fox) Wunderlich.

After graduating from Kramer High School in 1957, Chris served in the Air Force for four years and was very proud of his military service.

He then returned to Columbus, Nebraska where he worked for his father’s business, Wunderlich’s Construction. He also formed ABC (Al, Buck, and Chris) Painting with his Uncle Albert Wunderlich and his dad, where he worked for a short period of time.

In 1971, Chris went to work at Mid-American Research Chemical (MARC) where he started out in sales and progressed to Sales Manager. During this time, he and his family lived in Lusk, Wyoming and North Platte, Nebraska before returning to Columbus.

In 1987, Chris and his family moved to Arizona where he studied for and obtained his broker’s license and went to work for A.G. Edwards as an Investment Broker. He was very successful and worked there until retiring in 2005.

Chris married Lavon on August 31, 1962, in Columbus, Nebraska. Chris was a family man and loved his parents, his wife, his daughters, his granddaughters, and great-grandsons very much and enjoyed spending time with them.

Chris enjoyed many sports including running track in high school, golfing, bowling, and watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers play. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He liked going to the horse races and dog races. He loved playing cards with his family and was a serious poker player, including playing in the World Series of Poker multiple times.

Survivors include his wife, Lavon Wunderlich, his daughter, Diane, and his daughter, Stephanie and son-in-law, Jeremy Smith. Four granddaughters: Brittney (and Brian) Infiesto, Rebecca (and Rob) Pelletier, Madison (and Jacob) Haiman, and Megan Smith. And his great- grandsons: Braxton Infiesto and Drew Pelletier.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Geneva and his four siblings: Shirley Koch, Kay Eisenmenger, Genene Moore, and Walt Wunderlich.

Celebration of Life with military honors will be held at Gilbert Memorial Park in Gilbert, AZ on Sunday, September 29 at 10:00am.

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In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.