Beloved high-school soccer coach and wife become latest Texas flood victims… with their two children still missing
A high-school soccer coach and his wife were among those who died in the devastating floods that swept through Texas on Friday, it has been announced.
Reece Zunker, a teacher and soccer coach at Tivy High School in Kerrville, and his wife Paula, who was formerly a teacher at the school, tragically lost their lives after the Guadalupe River in Kerr County flooded and surged by up to 30 feet above its usual water level in the early hours of July 4.
The couple’s two young children, Lyle and Holland, were both still missing as of Sunday afternoon.
‘It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of one of our beloved teachers, Reece Zunker, and his wife, Paula, who tragically lost their lives in the flash flood on July 4th,’ the Kerrville Independent School District said in a statement.
‘Reece was a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach. His unwavering dedication to our students, athletes, and the Tivy community touched countless lives and will never be forgotten.
‘Paula, a former Tivy teacher, also left a lasting mark on our community. The care and impact she shared with her students continue to be felt, even years later.’
High-school teacher and soccer coach Reece Zunker (left) and his wife Paula (right) were among those who died in the devastating floods that swept through Texas on Friday
Reece and Paul’s two young children, Lyle and Holland, are still missing following the floods
The Tivy boy’s soccer team also paid tribute to Reece, who taught at the school for 12 years, describing him as a ‘leader and inspiration’.
‘Coach Reece Zunker was not just a soccer coach he was a mentor, teacher and a role model for our Kerrville kids,’ the team said in a post on Facebook. ‘He rebuilt the soccer program and left a legacy. His passion for his players, students, co-workers, community and his family will never be forgotten.’
School officials in Texas urged the community to keep the Zunker family ‘in your prayers’ with Lyle and Holland still missing.
According to Fox News, they were vacationing at a river house in Hunt, near Camp Mystic – where several children are still unaccounted for.
Reece’s last post on Facebook, which he made on June 15, reveals that the couple were celebrating their 11th anniversary last month.
He wrote alongside a photo of them together: ‘Late delivery, but it’s because we were busy having a great night! Here’s to 11 years and many more to come! Love you babe! Happy Anniversary!
The devastating floods have claimed the lives of at least 82 people, including five young girls aged between eight and nine whose summer camp – Camp Mystic – was swept away. At the time of writing rescuers have found the bodies of 40 adults and 28 children.
The wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has confirmed the tragic loss of a family member as a result of the devastating Texas floods.
The couple, pictured together last month, were vacationing at a river house in Hunt, near Camp Mystic – where several children are still unaccounted for
Items lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas
Clark’s wife, Tavia, revealed that Janie Hunt – a young cousin in the family – was part of the Camp Mystic campers who died.
Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives — including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls.
‘How do we trust a God who is supposed to be good, all knowing and all powerful, but who allows such terrible things to happen — even to children?
‘That is a sacred and tender question — and one the Bible doesn’t shy away from. Scripture is filled with the cries of those whose hearts have been shattered, who still wrestle to trust the same God they believe allowed the pain.’
A total of 11 girls are missing from Camp Mystic after the rushing waters destroyed the all-girls private Christian summer camp.
Beloved Camp Mystic director, Richard ‘Dick’ Eastland, 70, also died while trying to save girls as a month’s worth of rain dropped in a matter of minutes.
