Anthony (Tony) DeUnger
1956-02-26 2021-12-05
On Sunday, the 5th of December 2021, Anthony Rene DeUnger passed away in his home due to complications from COVID-19. He was 65 years old.
Anthony, or really Tony to almost everyone, was born on February 26th, 1956 to James and Winifred DeUnger in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seventh of eight children, Tony developed strong bonds with his brothers and sisters, and he grew up embodying the principle of love and devotion to family. As a boy, he moved to San Antonio, Texas for a time before settling with his family in Austin. The capital of Texas was Tony’s home as he progressed through school, made friends, and listened to good ol’ rock and roll. In his youth, Tony was very athletic, and he enjoyed playing many sports particularly baseball and basketball. While a young man, Tony also began to delve deeper into his faith with thoughts of becoming a minister. After high school, Tony began working for the Austin school district, but shortly after, he entered into the seminary determined to become a full-blown Baptist minister.
In 1976, Tony married his first wife Carrie, and in 1978, their son Andrew was born. Tony’s already strong familial love and devotion grew. Tony left the seminary in an effort to be there for his growing family. And, grow it did. In 1983, Carrie gave birth to twin daughters Alicia and Kristian. Although Carrie and Tony divorced in 1986, Tony remained dedicated to his children. Throughout the kids’ childhood, Tony made sure that the four of them always lived in a house and not just an apartment. He found great joy in always being there to care for and play with his children, and he even found time to play sports himself: rocking the outfield in travel league softball.
Tony’s tight-knit group bounced around Austin with Tony working multiple jobs at times to not only take care of everyone, but also to make sure that the kids could play team sports and get the latest Adidas shoes. It was through Andy’s involvement in sports that Tony met his second wife Patty whom he married in 1989. Patty had a son named Brandon who was on Andy’s baseball team. Tony’s love for family extended beyond the confines of blood relation, and Brandon became another son to him. The group grew together, and Tony continued to dedicate himself to them. He took initiative to volunteer and coach many of Andy’s teams, and was even voted in to a special position coaching soccer at Andy’s high school. He eventually moved into a more permanent position and continued coaching after Andy graduated. Although Patty and Tony divorced in 1995, Tony tried to maintain a relationship with Brandon.
In 1998, Tony met his future wife Susan at his niece’s wedding. Tony and Susan married in April of 1999, he moved to San Antonio, TX, and his family grew to include four more children: Heather, Michael, Curtiss, and Rachel. In this new chapter of his life, Tony’s love only grew, and his dedication widened to include his new wife and children. He continued to be there for ALL of his kids: showing up for practices, attending dances, teaching them to drive, encouraging their talents, helping them move, acting in their films, and driving them to check out colleges. It was important to Tony that the Chapman/DeUngers were always having fun together whether it be hitting softballs in homerun derby or cramming everyone, including family friend Matthew Ferguson, in the van for a road trip. Tony was most happy when the family was all together, and he made it his mission to continually gather his flock even as his kids grew up and moved away.
Tony taught his children to help without hesitation because that is what family does. As the children grew older and moved away, he remained a constant presence in their lives. He was always there to help whoever needed it, and he made time to visit his children as they moved all over the United States: Las Vegas, Boston, North Carolina, Florida, and more. The ideal of being together and having fun never left Tony. As his children had children of their own, Tony’s love and devotion extended even further, for he always had more love to give. He became Grandpa and Papa Tony to 21 grandchildren, and he worked hard to play with them, get to know them, and be present for them as he did for his own children.
Tony DeUnger is a man that exemplifies selflessness. He valued friends, God, and family. He touched many lives on his short walk upon this earth, but his impact will echo through so many because for Tony, they were all family.
Tony is survived by his wife Susan; his brothers James, Robert, Joseph, and Mark; his sisters Suzette and Mickey; his children Andy, Heather, Michael, Alicia, Kristian, Curtiss, and Rachel; and his 21 grandchildren.
Anthony, or really Tony to almost everyone, was born on February 26th, 1956 to James and Winifred DeUnger in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seventh of eight children, Tony developed strong bonds with his brothers and sisters, and he grew up embodying the principle of love and devotion to family. As a boy, he moved to San Antonio, Texas for a time before settling with his family in Austin. The capital of Texas was Tony’s home as he progressed through school, made friends, and listened to good ol’ rock and roll. In his youth, Tony was very athletic, and he enjoyed playing many sports particularly baseball and basketball. While a young man, Tony also began to delve deeper into his faith with thoughts of becoming a minister. After high school, Tony began working for the Austin school district, but shortly after, he entered into the seminary determined to become a full-blown Baptist minister.
In 1976, Tony married his first wife Carrie, and in 1978, their son Andrew was born. Tony’s already strong familial love and devotion grew. Tony left the seminary in an effort to be there for his growing family. And, grow it did. In 1983, Carrie gave birth to twin daughters Alicia and Kristian. Although Carrie and Tony divorced in 1986, Tony remained dedicated to his children. Throughout the kids’ childhood, Tony made sure that the four of them always lived in a house and not just an apartment. He found great joy in always being there to care for and play with his children, and he even found time to play sports himself: rocking the outfield in travel league softball.
Tony’s tight-knit group bounced around Austin with Tony working multiple jobs at times to not only take care of everyone, but also to make sure that the kids could play team sports and get the latest Adidas shoes. It was through Andy’s involvement in sports that Tony met his second wife Patty whom he married in 1989. Patty had a son named Brandon who was on Andy’s baseball team. Tony’s love for family extended beyond the confines of blood relation, and Brandon became another son to him. The group grew together, and Tony continued to dedicate himself to them. He took initiative to volunteer and coach many of Andy’s teams, and was even voted in to a special position coaching soccer at Andy’s high school. He eventually moved into a more permanent position and continued coaching after Andy graduated. Although Patty and Tony divorced in 1995, Tony tried to maintain a relationship with Brandon.
In 1998, Tony met his future wife Susan at his niece’s wedding. Tony and Susan married in April of 1999, he moved to San Antonio, TX, and his family grew to include four more children: Heather, Michael, Curtiss, and Rachel. In this new chapter of his life, Tony’s love only grew, and his dedication widened to include his new wife and children. He continued to be there for ALL of his kids: showing up for practices, attending dances, teaching them to drive, encouraging their talents, helping them move, acting in their films, and driving them to check out colleges. It was important to Tony that the Chapman/DeUngers were always having fun together whether it be hitting softballs in homerun derby or cramming everyone, including family friend Matthew Ferguson, in the van for a road trip. Tony was most happy when the family was all together, and he made it his mission to continually gather his flock even as his kids grew up and moved away.
Tony taught his children to help without hesitation because that is what family does. As the children grew older and moved away, he remained a constant presence in their lives. He was always there to help whoever needed it, and he made time to visit his children as they moved all over the United States: Las Vegas, Boston, North Carolina, Florida, and more. The ideal of being together and having fun never left Tony. As his children had children of their own, Tony’s love and devotion extended even further, for he always had more love to give. He became Grandpa and Papa Tony to 21 grandchildren, and he worked hard to play with them, get to know them, and be present for them as he did for his own children.
Tony DeUnger is a man that exemplifies selflessness. He valued friends, God, and family. He touched many lives on his short walk upon this earth, but his impact will echo through so many because for Tony, they were all family.
Tony is survived by his wife Susan; his brothers James, Robert, Joseph, and Mark; his sisters Suzette and Mickey; his children Andy, Heather, Michael, Alicia, Kristian, Curtiss, and Rachel; and his 21 grandchildren.