Edward W. Unkel, 98, of Denver, Colo., died Saturday, May 22, 1999, in a Denver rest home.

Services were Thursday, May 27, 1999, in Crown Hill Funeral Chapel in Denver. Pastor Kent Mueller of Messiah Lutheran Church officiated.

Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Don Rossiter, Leslie Rossiter, Ernie Allen, Stephen Allen, William Allen and Kevin Bashline.

He was born September 12, 1900, to John and Pauline (Knecht) Unkel near Beemer. His parents were married at Salem Lutheran Church in Fontanelle on February 14, 1881.

He was baptized into the Lutheran faith. In 1911, his parents and seven youngest children moved to Madison County, south of Battle Creek. He was confirmed in the spring of 1914 in St. Peter’s, Heights Lutheran Church.

At the age of 18 or 19, he was afflicted with asthma, so he went to Colorado to a better climate.

He worked in a garage where he learned to drive a bus.

By 1924, he moved to Denver, where he was employed by Colorado Motor Way.

In 1925, he married Ebba Henerson, but divorced in 1949.

Later, he drove for Greyhound and lastly for Continental Trailways.

On April 19, 1952, he married Vilta Rose (Clark) Allen. Upon that marriage, he acquired a family.

After his retirement, he took up woodworking crafts.

Vilta was confined to a rest home for five years, and died August 19, 1993.

Edward gave up his home about two years ago, and moved in with his step-daughter and her husband.

He is survived by niece, Jeanette (Unkel) Volk of rural Arlington; step-daughter Lila and husband Harvey Rossiter of Denver; their three children, Don, Leslie and Kelli and their families; Ernie and Bonnie Allen and their sons, Stephen, and William, all of Denver; and Phillip’s widow and their seven children of Utah.

He was preceded in death by his wife; her son Philip Allen, Sr., his parents; six brothers, Johnnie, Emil, George, Albert, Otto and Walter; and three sisters, Amanda Lemm of Beemer, Clara Praeuner of Battle Creek; and Sophie Hawk of Tilden.