Surrounded by his loving family, Gary K. Munkelt was called home by our Lord on March 19, 2022, rejoining his loved ones in Heaven after a courageous battle with his chronic conditions. He was 84 and the loving husband for 60 years of Polly.
The loving son of the late Kenneth J. Munkelt and Gladys McBreen Munkelt, he was born in Tappan, New York and raised in Pearl River, New York, attending Pearl River High School, devoting his time as a volunteer in the Pearl River Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 and as a devoted mason of the Naurashank Masonic Lodge No. 589 for 45 years.
Gary attended Bucknell University gaining a Bachelors of Arts and Science in Civil Engineering, as well as Newark College of Engineering where he earned his Masters in Civil Engineering. He then contributed his engineering expertise to the Township of Orangetown, as well as Lederle Laboratories.
He was honorably discharged after eight years of service in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve. He then journeyed to Doylestown in 1973 with his family where he began a Burial Vault and Precast Concrete business, later developing a Civil Engineering consulting company, Gary K. Munkelt & Associates, LLC to provide personal attention, experience and expertise in precast reinforced concrete and structural engineering. He was well known in the industry for his Precasters Notebooks, a compilation of technical articles he produced to educate the industry on the design of precast products.
In his spare time, Gary continued his devotion to the Masons, joining Doylestown Lodge #245 F.&A.M. and enjoyed many racquetball games with his buddies. He loved to support his local community by enjoying pizza every Friday night from Nat’s Pizza and having breakfast every Saturday morning at his favorite, Cross Keys Diner.
One of Gary’s motto’s was Family First. He adored his family, hosting event-filled yearly reunions including crab racing and comical volley ball games. He loved watching his grandkids, traveling to baseball and hockey games across the east coast in his beloved Chevy conversion vans. He is also famous for his motto, Life is short. Eat dessert first.
He and his beloved wife enjoyed cruises, where he spent a lot of time at the dessert buffets. Gary loved supporting the local Girl Scout troops, buying cases of cookies so he could hide them in his secret stashes to eat all year long. As his joints began to wear out, he acquired his cherished John Deere tractor enabling him to continue to deliver fresh picked corn to his neighbors. Another one of his passions was restoring old cars, including his own Munk-Mobile that he drove without seats for a long while.
Gary will forever be remembered for his kindness and willingness to lend a helping hand. He woke up every morning choosing to be happy. He lived life in one gear: always positive. Another one of his motto’s was You never fail until you stop trying. Everyone who knew him loved his smile and how he made them feel extra special including the many compassionate nurses who would grapple over getting him as their patient.
Survivors include his loving wife, Polly Munkelt, along with his two loving children: Pamela (Munkelt) Cox, her husband, Joseph Cox and Peggy Munkelt, as well as three loving grandchildren: Jessica, her husband, Mike and Kyle and his loving great-grandson, Beckham. Also surviving are his loving nephews: Greg (Doreen), Kenney (Erin), loving niece Tara (John), loving great-niece Tori, loving great nephews: Tyler, Blake, Brennen, his sister-in-law, Rita Munkelt and numerous cousins and friends. He is predeceased by his grandson, Aaron and brother, Richard Munkelt.
The family would like to thank all of the caregivers and friends who supported and cared for Gary during the past several years.
Friends and relatives are invited to his funeral service at 11 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2022 at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown, where the family will greet guests from 10 a.m., until the time of the Masonic service at 10:45. The family will also greet guests Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be private.
The family asks those wishing to make a donation in Gary’s honor, consider doing so to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at https://supporting.afsp.org / as a memorial donation to Gary’s grandson, Aaron Cox.