Gordon D. Bunch

During the Vietnam era, Gordon served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam and Taiwan. On Sept. 30, 1968, Gordon risked his life to save numerous Chinese civilians and U.S. military dependents stranded in Taipei, Taiwan, during Typhoon Elaine. For his "courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk," Gordon was awarded the United States of America Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism.

After his discharge from the Air Force, Gordon returned to Nebraska and began attending the University of Nebraska in Omaha. While pursuing his degree in biology, he met and married Charlene Schilmoeller of Remsen, Iowa. After graduation, they headed west in 1975 to Lewiston. Gordon attended the University of Idaho, where he attained a master's in wildlife resources. They then moved to southern Idaho, where he began working for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game as a wildlife land manager.

After five years with fish and game, Gordon's heart and his dreams of having his own land called him back to northern Idaho. He and Charlene settled permanently in Lenore to raise their children on a small farm. Gordon also worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier, first in Lenore, then Craigmont and finally in Juliaetta, where he carried mail for more than 20 years. He was a dedicated postal carrier and loved to banter with his postal customers. He retired from the postal service in 2007.

An avid fisherman and hunter, Gordon shared his love for the outdoors with his family. He was a loving husband, devoted father, farmer, 4-H leader, outdoorsman and conservationist.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Charlene; daughter Jessica Bunch of Lewiston; son Daniel Bunch and his wife Tiffany of Bremerton, Wash.; sister Elizabeth Andersen of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; sister-in-law Betty Kaschmitter and her husband Mike of Spencer, Iowa; brothers-in-law Gary Schilmoeller and his wife Kathy of Orono, Maine, Ron Schilmoeller and his wife Jeanne of Remsen, Iowa, Leon Schilmoeller and his wife Jan of Cottage Grove, Minn., and Bob Schilmoeller and his wife Ruth of Burnsville, Minn.; numerous nieces and nephews and many friends.

A funeral Mass for Gordon will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at All Saints Catholic Church, 3330 14th St., Lewiston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Lung Cancer Alliance or St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Family Hospice.