Victor Junker

NEW HARTFORD — Victor Paul Junker, 84, died Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at his home in New Hartford surrounded by family. He was born October 26, 1941, in Aplington, Iowa, the son of Fred and Anna E. Maifeld Junker, the eighth of 14 children. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living of the fourteen. He attended country school at Albion #6 near Parkersburg through seventh grade and graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1959. He met Cathlyn Mai "Nan" Moffitt at the New Hartford roller skating rink, and they were united in marriage on May 27, 1960. They welcomed three children: Victoria in 1961, Tracy in 1965, and Antonia in 1969, and made their home together in New Hartford for the next 63 years. Nan passed away May 29, 2023. Victor started his career in metal spinning in 1960 at Howland Manufacturing and opened his first shop, J & J Metal Spinning in Waterloo, in the early 1970s. He sold that business in 1980 and moved into satellite dishes, building large ones and installing them for cable companies all over the world, setting up shops to make them in Kansas, Nevada, Argentina, and Korea. In 1990 he was involved in starting the new version of J & J Metal Spinning, retiring and selling in 2002. He never really retired. He drove semi for Feckers Farms and Krueger Farms for several years and was his wife's primary caregiver for over a decade. His last five years were spent working with his son and grandson at Rockstar Real Estate, right up until the day before his illness was diagnosed. He loved to be busy. Over the years his favorite things were his family, especially his grandkids and great-grandkids, and attending as many of their school and sporting events as possible — almost a full-time job in itself. He also loved to travel, which took him to all 50 states and several countries. Memorable trips included driving to Alaska in the 1970s; many visits to Tracy and his family in Germany, including Berlin during reunification; visiting Toni in Hawaii; a Panama Canal cruise with friends in 1999; a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2007 with Tori, Adam, and Alta; and a shakedown cruise aboard the USS Enterprise with a nephew. One of his favorites was the 50th anniversary trip to the Wisconsin Dells, where he and Nan had honeymooned, with all of their kids, grandkids, and at that time one great-grandchild. He attended Calvary Baptist Church in Parkersburg, where he was baptized with his brother Floyd and his mother on December 30, 1951. He and Nan chaperoned many youth group trips, with an especially memorable one to the Apple River in the late 1970s. He attended Cedar Falls Christian Church for two decades and most recently First Baptist in New Hartford. He was also a member of the New Hartford Lions Club for many years and an active mentor to attendees of Celebrate Recovery. Victor is survived by his children: Victoria (Dave) Schwab of New Hartford, Tracy (Iris) Junker of Waterloo, and Antonia (Troy) Midthus of New Hartford; his siblings: Ralph Junker, Curtis Junker, Anna Cady, and Milanya Hall; grandchildren: Alta Schwab; Tyler (Tiffany), Jeremy (Lexie), Stephanie Junker, and Jason Herbenson; Maile (Jarred) Ryherd; Bethany (Seth) Christensen; and Noah Heathcott; and great-grandchildren: Gabriel Schwab; Tayler, Taryn, Teagan, and Tyson Junker; Calvin, LeRoy, and Murphy Junker; Carver and Jayson Beebe; Dane and Elliot Ryherd; and Adrian and Clarke Christensen. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nan; his grandson, Adam Schwab; and seven siblings, including his brother Floyd Junker. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Cedar Falls Christian Church, 2727 W. 4th St. Visitation will be 4–7:30 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2026, at Richardson Funeral Service in Cedar Falls, with a time of sharing from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interment will take place at Beaver Grove Cemetery in rural New Hartford. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family, to be distributed to his favorite causes.

Victor Junker

October 26, 1941 - August 11, 2026