David H. Wunschel

David H. Wunschel, 77, of Goffstown, died Wednesday, June 29, 2022, following a period of declining health.

David was born July 25, 1944, in Providence, RI to Kenneth and Ruth (Shawcross) Wunschel. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam Era with the United States Navy 1966-1970. He was assigned to the USS Hancock in the Pacific, where he spent his entire enlistment as a supply specialist and cook. Following his discharge, he enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America to further his cooking career. He was employed by Compass Group as a school cook, most recently at St. Mary’s in Lynn, MA, where he retired in 2010 after 30 years of dedicated service.

David, or Pop Pop as he was known by his grandsons, had a keen eye for beauty and was a lover of everything delicious. He had a soft spot for ice cream, in which he would indulge, particularly during the summer months. “Moderation” was not a word found in his vocabulary often, and he enjoyed his favorites to the fullest.

He also was a collector of everything, from movies to Santa figurines to the most gorgeously illustrated children’s books, which he gifted to his grandchildren in great boxes once they were born. He enjoyed creating trainset miniatures and cherished the time he spent doing so with his nephew, Jeff.

While David always spoke of being a mischievous child in his younger years, he saw no fault when his grandchildren displayed similar behaviors. They were the light of his life, and he always ensured their banks were well fed with ‘piggy food’ whenever he came to visit.

David is survived by his children Eric Wunschel, Mark Wunschel and his wife, Michelle; siblings Don Wunschel and Richard “Dick” Wunschel; beloved grandchildren Joshua and Nicholas Wunschel; brother-in-law, Bruce Van Auken; nephew Jeff Van Auken and his wife, Elisa; niece Lisa Wilkins and her husband, Ray; as well as great niece Addison Waters, her husband Oliver, and their son, Oscar; and great nephew Cory Van Auken, his wife Amanda, and their son, Theo. He was predeceased by his best friend and sister, Diane Van Auken, as well as his great nephews, Matthew, Patrick, and Kyle Wilkins.

Family and friends are invited to gather Wednesday, July 13 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street in Manchester. Please send any memorial contributions to The Muscular Dystrophy Association https://www.mda.org/. Special thanks to his wonderful nursing team Stacey Brissette, Michael, and Alex at HCNH and his hospice nurses, who all set a high bar for incredible care. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please go to https://phaneuf.net/.