Earl W. Ver Bunker, 79, of Hurley and Harlingen, TX, formerly of Union Grove, passed away Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in West Allis, following a brief illness.      He was born Jan. 25, 1930, in Ironwood, Mich. His parents were the late Earl M. and Eileen (Hephner) Ver Bunker of Montreal, Wis., where Earl spent his growing up years. He attended Roosevelt Grade School in Montreal and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley in 1947. After high school, Earl proudly served in the United States Navy from 1949 until 1951. Following his discharge, he worked at the Montreal and Bonnie Mines in Montreal and Ironwood, first as underground miner and then in the payroll department.      After the mines closed, Earl enrolled in the Education Program at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, successfully completing three Masters Degrees. On June 20, 1953, he was united in marriage to Marie C. Tocci. In 1963, after a brief two-year position in Grand Marais, Minn., Earl and Marie moved to Union Grove, where Earl spent the next 27 years serving as Principal of the Union Grove Union High School. He retired in 1990. Marie preceded him in death on July 18, 1997.      Earl was a man with a great passion for life. He had a charming personality and a special gift of understanding and helping others. If a problem needed to be solved, Earl was the person ready to help in any way that he could. Earl will be sadly missed by his family, extended family and friends. He was truly an amazing man.      Aside from his passion for life, work, family and friends, Earl loved to golf and spend winters in Harlingen and summers up north in Hurley. He also enjoyed reading, listening to music, watching Fox News, and the Brewers. He especially enjoyed watching his three grandchildren grow up.      Surviving are two sons, Jay, of Union Grove, and Todd (Debra), of New Richmond; three grandchildren, Brooke, Tarra and Alec Ver Bunker whom Earl thought were amazing kids; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy (Paul) Soltis, of Ironwood. In addition, Earl is survived by his second wife, Elisabeth Hughes Ver Bunker, whom he married on Sept. 18, 2004.               A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden, celebrant.      Rite of Committal will take place at the church, with luncheon to follow in the parish hall.      Spring inurnment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurley.      Relatives and friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.      Online condolences may be given to the family of Earl W. Ver Bunker at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.       Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.                                                     Earl lived a full and happy life.        "Make each moment an occasion to live deeply, happily, in peace" -Thich Nhat Hanh