A Minnesota pastor has died weeks after suffering a severe spinal cord injury and nearly drowning during a cruise in Italy celebrating his son’s wedding.
Steve Junker, 58, from Elbow Lake, was on board Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess on 16 August when he fell and was later found face down and unresponsive in a swimming pool, according to a fundraising page set up by his family.
He was taken ashore by an Italian Coast Guard boat and admitted to intensive care in Naples. His family said he underwent emergency spinal surgery the following day, although the injury remained serious.
Princess Cruises said its crew had been alerted that a passenger required medical assistance. “The guest was attended to by the ship’s medical team and subsequently transferred ashore for further care,” the company said.
Pastor Steve Junker was flown back to Minnesota
Junker’s relatives spent the following days arranging medical treatment and transport back to the United States, while also dealing with the financial and logistical pressures caused by his hospitalisation overseas.
He was eventually flown to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on 23 August for further treatment. His daughter, Elizabeth Junker, later said additional diagnostic tests had revealed injuries that could not be treated.
Junker died on 4 September surrounded by his wife, children, parents and friends, his family said. He had served as pastor of Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon for nearly a decade.
In an update shared through the family’s fundraising campaign, Elizabeth Junker said: “At 6:33pm today, Steve went to be with Jesus.” She also thanked staff at Mayo Clinic and those who had helped support the family.
Chippewa Lutheran Church described Junker as a much-loved figure whose faith had made a lasting difference to many people. His son Nathaniel also paid tribute to him through worship songs.
An obituary said Junker had worked as a pharmacist before entering ministry. He is survived by his wife, five children, their spouses and a grandchild.
A funeral service was scheduled to take place at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon on 11 September, followed by burial at Minnewaska Cemetery in Starbuck, Minnesota.
