W. Carl Hunker

Carl Hunker was born in Lakeview, Oregon on April 24, 1916 to Harry C. Hunker and Louise A. Bosworth. He grew up in Canon City, Colorado, which he considered his home town. After graduating from high school, he worked for two years in the mountains of Colorado with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1936, he enrolled in William Jewell College, graduating with highest honors in 1940.

Carl received a call to the ministry when he was a teenager. After college graduation, he enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It was there that he met and married his beloved Jeanette Roebuck in 1943. He completed his Th.M. and Ph.D in 1946.

Both Carl and Jeanette felt a strong call to be missionaries. They responded to this call and embarked for China in 1946 with son David, where they were assigned to work in Suzhou, Kiangsu province, where daughter Joyce Lynn was born. Carl spent two years studying Chinese and working with students. With the regime change in China in 1948, the family relocated to the Philippines where they entered language study for a second time, learning the Mandarin dialect.

In 1952, Carl and Jeanette were called to work in Taiwan, where he remained for 34 years, retiring in 1986. Carl served as a church planter, pastor, seminary professor, and seminary president, as well as mentor to hundreds of his students and congregants. When on furlough, Carl taught missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received an honorary doctorate from William Jewell College in 1963 and a Humanitarian Award in 2009.

After the passing of Jeanette, Carl returned to the United States and began working with the Chinese community in Kansas City. He served as pastor and pastor emeritus of the Emmanuel Chinese Baptist Church from the late 1980's until his passing. Carl attended services at ECBC until 2 weeks before his passing.

Carl is survived by son David (Maggie), daughter Joyce Lynn Maslin (Phil), grandchildren Carrie Scott (Jake), Joel, and Janell Wright (Marcus), and great granddaughter, Kaylynn. Carl loved the Lord, loved his work, and loved the Chinese people. He lived a fulfilling and productive life. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

A visitation will be held at the Emmanuel Chinese Baptist Church 10101 England Drive, Overland Park, KS 66212 from 3-5 pm Sunday, January 10, 2016. A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church on January 23, 2016. Time and location will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Carl's name may be made to Emmanuel Chinese Baptist Church.