James Gerald Bunn

Jun. 25, 1963 - May 6, 2023

Date of Service: May 19, 2023

RUPERT – James Gerald Bunn, a 59-year-old resident of Rupert, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, with his wife by his side, following a short battle with cancer.

James was born June 25, 1963, in Burley, Idaho, to Gerald Emulous and Freida M. Sprague Bunn. He attended school in Burley and developed many construction skills throughout his life. He married the love of his life, Daphne Kay VanAlst, and they spent 30 amazing years together. He was also the love of her life. They lived together in the Mini-Cassia area and in eastern Oregon for a time.

James loved his family and friends fiercely and would help anyone who needed him. He loved the outdoors and fishing was a passion. He also loved hunting. In the fall he spent more time hunting than at home, and when the hunts concluded it was back to fishing again. He loved raising his own beef cattle and was proud that he could make sure his family and friends always had good meat.

James loved teaching his grandchildren. He helped Dally and Jadyn with skinning and processing their first deer. He taught Dally how to smoke his own jerky. He bought Xander his first BB gun and taught him how to aim and shoot. Xander killed many pop cans with that gun. He greatly enjoyed seeing all of his grandkids’ works of art, from pictures colored to leather work. He was proud of his grandkids and their parents.

James worked for Pro-Marble for many years and was a skilled fabricator. He also loved logging and building flat-bed trailers.

James is survived by his wife, Daphne Bunn; daughter, Maliesa (Jade) Sears of Malta; son, Seth (Melanie) Bunn of Burley; grandchildren, Dally Sears, and Jadyn Sears of Malta, and Xander Bunn, Xyler Bunn, and Zaiden Bunn all of Burley; his mother, Freida S. Bunn of Burley; sisters, Jeri Lyn (Steve) Long, Jayna (Fred) Morris, Joni Walker, and Shelli (Norm) Bealer; many nieces and nephews; and close friends, Chris Jones and Gene Wright.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald E. Bunn.

A service of remembrance will be held at 1p.m. Friday, May 19, at First Baptist Church, located at 2262 Hiland Ave., in Burley, with Pastor Cory Zanotti officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley, under the care of Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley.