Bernard J. Junge
November 5, 1943 - February 21, 2022
Bernard James Junge, 78, of Rochester passed away on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022 at his residence. Bernard was born on Nov. 5, 1943, to Emil and Martha Junge, and was baptized on Nov. 14, 1943. He grew up in the small town of Holgate, Ohio, with four brothers and one sister. Upon graduation from Holgate High School in 1961, Bernie served four years in the Submarine Service of the US Navy on the USS ODAX. After his honorable discharge, Bernie returned to Ohio and attended the University of Toledo, earning a degree in business. He held several Controller and General Manager positions with companies that had businesses in multiple states, including Johns Mansville, Redman Industries, HNP and General Woodworker.
Following the sale of General Woodworker in Plymouth, Indiana, Bernie remained active in the business community and served as a business broker, facilitating the sale of area companies. His last management position was as a partner in Electri-tec in Angola, Indiana. For the past 40 years, Bernie cultivated the herb, ginseng. While traveling in Wisconsin for business, he first inquired about the herb and discovered it would do well on his 186-acre farm in Indiana. Ginseng is highly prized in the Chinese culture and is found in many health-related products sold in the United States. Bernie was regularly active in the U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. Silversides Base as the Base Commander of the Indiana District. He was instrumental in procuring a plaque that is now displayed in the American Legion in North Webster, Indiana, in honor of the fifty-three submarines and 3,500 servicemembers that were lost during WWII.
Among those lost were four Medal of Honor recipients. No matter where Bernie lived, he was a faithful church member and usually sang in the choir and was always willing to teach Sunday School and serve on various boards and committees. When he settled in Rochester, he was able to rekindle his interest in horses and standard - bred harness racing. With his friend, Jack Kieninger, he enjoyed caring for and racing horses at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana. He was a member of the U.S. Trotters Association. Bernie loved music and dancing and acquired the nickname, “BJ the DJ” in high school as he spun the records for the high school dances. Since there were no opportunities for adults to gather and dance in Rochester, he started a monthly dance night for Rochester and area community members but was shut down due to the COVID pandemic. Bernie was active in his community, serving on the United Way board, was President of the Rotary Club in Plymouth, Indiana and, most recently, the Rotary Club of Rochester, Indiana.
He was past Vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ancilla College in Donaldson, Indiana. Bernie was proceeded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Raymond Junge and Walter Junge. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Lisa (Brian) Allen of Plymouth, Indiana; Troy Junge and Chad Junge of Huntersville, North Carolina; grandsons, Trent Allen of Seattle, Washington, and Damon Allen of Plymouth, Indiana; siblings Everett Junge of Edina, Minnesota; Elmer (Rosalyn) Junge of Napoleon, Ohio, and Florence (Bernie) Dielman of Napoleon, Ohio; first wife Shirley Damman Junge of Plymouth, Indiana; and significant other, Karen Kingsley of New Buffalo, Michigan. Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 404 Jefferson St., Rochester, Indiana at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Friends may visit with the family one prior to the service. Military Honors will be conducted by the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard and the US Navy Honors Team. Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rochester, Indiana. Arrangements have been entrusted to Good Family Funeral Home of Rochester. Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.