Pastor and Father of Five Dies After Tragic Cruise Ship Pool Injury

A Minnesota pastor and father of five has died after a devastating accident in a cruise ship swimming pool left him with a shattered spine.

Stephen Duane Junker, 58, was aboard a Princess Cruises vessel off the coast of Italy celebrating his son’s wedding when the tragic incident unfolded.

According to a family GoFundMe page, Junker was discovered “face down and unresponsive” at the bottom of the Sun Princess swimming pool on August 16.

Crew members and responders pulled him from the water before the Italian coast guard transported him to a hospital in Naples. Authorities have not publicly explained how he ended up in the pool.

Doctors later found severe compression of his spinal cord, prompting emergency spinal surgery. Junker was also placed on a ventilator as medical teams fought to stabilize him.

Although his family said there were moments of hope during his hospitalization, Junker died on September 4 after weeks of intensive treatment.

Fundraisers wrote that he “went to be with Jesus” while surrounded by loved ones, adding that further diagnostic tests had revealed injuries doctors could not treat.

Junker, who served as a pastor at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota, is survived and mourned by his wife, Jeanine, their children, his grandson and extended family.

His death comes weeks after Junker underwent emergency surgery on his back.

Despite the operation’s success, the pastor was diagnosed as quadriplegic and was left unable to breathe on his own.

Junker returned home to Rochester, Minnesota, on August 23, where doctors began imaging and testing, the fundraiser created by his daughter Elizabeth said.

Days later, their father remained on a ventilator but was ‘more awake’ and ‘very much here with us.’

‘He’s able to respond to yes or no questions by nodding his head, and communicate through his facial expressions, which has meant so much to all of us. He denies any pain,’ the fundraiser said.

‘His kids have been able to come and say how much he means to them, and he has had some close friends come visit, so there is no doubt in his mind he is loved,’ his daughter wrote. 

‘Nathaniel was able to come sing a song for him today while he was sitting up in bed, which I know meant the world to him.’ 

At the time, Junker still had no feeling below his chest but his family were ‘grateful’ he was awake.

‘As you can imagine, this is an insane situation to navigate, both for the family and for my dad. We are leaning on scripture and prayer to guide us,’ Elizabeth said. 

Within a matter of days, however, Stephen passed away ‘surrounded by his wife, children, parents and friends.’ 

‘We’re grateful to everyone at Mayo Clinic for their excellent care and to everyone who donated to help support Steve and the family. We’re glad we were able to give him the opportunity to receive world-class care and reassured that everything that could possibly be done to help him was done,’ Elizabeth said.  

‘Knowing that Steve is loved by so many people who love him means more to our family than we can put into words.’

The pastor was described as a ‘devoted husband’ to the ‘love of his life’ Jeanine Junker, 54, and a ‘loving father to his five children.’

‘Above all, Steve loved his family,’ his obituary said. ‘Steve faced life and death with a quiet and unshakable faith, never afraid of what was to come. Even in his final moments, his thoughts turned to the church and the people he loved.’ 

Junker began his career as a pharmacist after graduating from Creighton University in Nebraska and ‘dedicated himself to the care of others through medicine.’

He answered a ‘deeper calling’ and attended The Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where he earned his Master of Divinity and became an ordained minister.

‘For nearly a decade, he served the congregation and community at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota, with devotion,’ his obituary said.

‘Being a minister was among the greatest joys and honors of his life. He was known for his animated sermons, his love of a good conversation on nearly any subject, and his readiness to help anyone in need, whether that meant offering counsel or simply producing the right tool for the job from his ever-prepared pockets.’ 

The Chippewa Lutheran Church wrote on Facebook: ‘Mourning the loss of a Pastor for our church family is very difficult to understand. Pastor Steve was a wonderful person, loved by many, and had a great impact on many people through his faith.’

‘Nathaniel Junker has said it best when he sang his worship songs as Pastor Steve was welcomed into Heaven, “He closed his eyes to this life and opened his eyes to Jesus.” What more does anyone want!’

Debi Junker Gregory wrote in his obituary that Stephen would ‘always be my special little cousin since we share the same birthdate.’

‘I remember so many fun times with him growing up. Riding the turtle at Como Park. Him helping me drag a life-size frog through the mall. Playing frisbee baseball in the front yard of his house. Praying for the family at this difficult time. Love,’ she wrote. 

Vicki Storm, a community member, said: ‘Pastor was there with my family as my husband was dying. It was a very special moment as Pastor prayed over Paul when his time was near and as he entered into the glorious arms of Jesus. 

‘I can’t think of anything more special than that moment with Pastor Steve’s quiet prayer of comfort, faith and joy for Paul. God bless Pastor Steve’s memory. He will be dearly missed.’

Our News Outlet reached out to the Chippewa Lutheran Church, Princess Cruises, the Italian Coast Guard and attempted to reach Junker’s family for comment.