Joseph "Gene" Eugene Junkersfeld

Memorial services for Joseph “Gene” Junkersfeld, 80, of Wills Point, TX, are scheduled for 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Church of Christ in Wills Point. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Services are under the direction of Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home.

Gene passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at his home.

Joseph Eugene Junkersfeld was born on February 17, 1945, in Memphis, TN, to Franz Joseph Junkersfeld and Kathryn Ashley Junkersfeld. He was raised in Tennessee until the age of six, when his family moved to Mesquite, TX. Gene attended school there and graduated from Mesquite High School. He married Wanda Joyce Evans in 1963, and they made their home in Mesquite while raising three children. He later married Donna Simmons in 1995. Gene worked in the sheet metal industry until the early 1990s, when he retired due to a disability.

He was a longtime member of the Church of Christ in Wills Point, where he was actively involved in the remodeling of the church building and served faithfully in leadership roles, often acting as a deacon in all but name. A passionate music lover, Gene was a song leader throughout most of his adult life. He was dedicated to teaching younger men how to lead singing, believing deeply in education and in serving the Lord. He was self-taught on several instruments—including guitar, piano, harmonica, and banjo—and also won multiple choir competitions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franz and Kathryn Junkersfeld; daughter, Gina Ann Whiteside; step-son, Donnie Tull; and brother-in-law, John Gage.

Gene is survived by his wife, Donna Junkersfeld of Wills Point, TX; son, James Junkersfeld of Maypearl, TX; daughter, Michelle Gillum of Maypearl, TX; step-sons, Tracy Craft and wife Shelley of Edgewood, TX, and Blyane Leach and wife Monica of Sachse, TX; step-daughter, Kathy Cosper and husband Mark Williamson of Wills Point, TX; brother, Cecil Junkersfeld of Maypearl, TX; sisters, Carolyn Caddenhead of Maud, TX, and Betty Gage of Italy, TX.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Bri’Anna, Jacob, Dillon, Dawn, Jessica, Jared, Lauren, Colton, Clay, Andrew, Alyssa, Zachary, Piper Paxton, Austin and Caden; and great-grandchildren: Peyton, Brylie, Arya, Stevie, Harper, Adelynn, and Sage.

The family would like to thank the staff of Alinea Family Hospice for the special care of Gene and would like to personally thank nurses Melissa and Tamara and CNAs Kat and Kathy.

Donations may be made to Alinea Family Hospice’s Benevolence fund.

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