Carl Leo Junker

Pastor Carl L. Junker, 67, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, November 25, 2004, after complications occurred during his brief battle with legionnaires disease. He was surrounded by his family.Carl was born on September 22, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, to John and Emily Junker. After completing college he served in the Air Force Reserves and then began a very successful 11 years career in banking and development that took him from Detroit to Miami, Florida, and throughout the Bahamas. During this time he also earned his law degree. In 1978, Carl felt a calling to become a minister and relocated his family to Bangor, Maine, to continue his education. He received his Master of Divinity and was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 1981. After serving as Pastor in Solon and Wells, Maine, he relocated his family to Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 1986.
In 1988 Carl took the position of Executive Director for Mustard Seed Ministries and quickly became a pillar in the community. He spent the last 16 years doing what he loved best, helping people. Carl was very passionate about his belief to help those around him and was extremely active in many organizations including the First Congregational UCC Church of Ft. Pierce, Healthy Kids and United Way, to name a few, as well as being one of the founders of the Treasure Coast Food Bank, Logos Bible College and the Annual Ft. Pierce Thanksgiving Day Celebration. He still continued his education during this time and received his Doctorate of Divinity in 1993. Carl retired in September of 2003, from Mustard Seed Ministries but still served as the interim Pastor at the First Congregational Church of Palm City.He is survived by his wife, Diana; son, Brad, of Tallahassee, Florida; son, David and his fiancé, Jane Benton, of Destin, Florida; son, Sean and his fiancé, Angel Britton, and their son, Ethan, of Jacksonville, Florida; son, Seamus Eyerly and his wife, Janine, and their daughter, Ellie, of Charlotte, North Carolina; daughter, Deborah Borton and her children, David and Julia, of Imlay City, Michigan; daughter, Carol Flanigan and Tim, and their children, Adam and Timmy, of Naples, Florida; son, Joseph Flanigan and his son, Michael, of Port St. Lucie, Florida; daughter, Colleen Devins and her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Gabrielle, of Romeo, Michigan; two brothers: John and his wife, Pat, of Detroit, Michigan; and Fritz and his wife, Charlotte, of Ocala, Florida; and two great grandchildren: Cameron and Lauren.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father; and sister, Emily.