In 1908, Edward F. Kunkel and his wife, Nora Cullinane Kunkel, and his brother, Walter Kunkel and his wife, Emma Keany Kunkel, went to Panama as engineers to help in the construction of the Panama Canal Zone. Natives of Readville, MA, Edward and Walter and their families came to the Panama Canal Zone and worked for the Isthmian Canal Commission. Edward was employed by the Panama Canal's Dredging Division and Walter was Supervisor of the Forge Shop. Edward and Walter were avid sportsmen and enjoyed fishing and hunting alligators in Panama in their spare time as well. Edward stayed in Panama after the opening of the Panama Canal, a veteran of the Panama Canal construction days, until retiring in 1948. Edward returned to the USA for a short time in 1948, but returned to the Panama Canal Zone to live in 1950. His wife Nora stayed in Readville, MA with family, not returning to Panama. Edward died in 1962 in Panama.

Paul Anthony Kunkel, Edward's son, married Annabelle Carr and also stayed behind in Panama with his family. Paul was employed in the Panama Canal Zone as a locomotive driver and worked in the forge shop. He left Panama in the 1970's and retired to Zephyer Hills, FL. Paul died in 1984 in Kerrville, Texas, while on vacation visiting his brother Edward Kunkel. Annabelle and Paul A. Kunkel's daughter, Catherine Ann Kunkel, was born in Panama and now lives in Collegeville, Pa with her husband, Joseph Glinski, and three sons. In addition to Catherine Ann Kunkel, Paul and Annabelle also had three other children: Paul Anthony Kunkel, Jr., Patricia Jean Kunkel, and James Michael Kunkel.

Walter and his family returned to the United States in 1913 and expanded Frank Kunkel & Sons, Inc., a steel forging company in Readville, MA, incorporated in 1883. Walter's son, Charles A. Kunkel, joined his father's company as a hammersmith at 16 years old and later became President of Frank Kunkel & Sons, Inc. Charles married Hazel Arlene Tinkham and raised 3 children in Canton, MA. Frank Kunkel & Son, Inc. was involved in the WW II war effort and made custom parts for the defense dept and became a sub-contractor for Raytheon and General Dynamics.

In 1968, Charles A. Kunkel, President, sold the corporation and retired. An avid outdoor sportsman also, he died in 1992 in Boston, MA after nearly 25 years of retirement. He is survived today by a son, David L. Kunkel of Hauppauge, NY, and two daughers, Debra Kunkel Stango, of Lakeland, FL and Diane Kunkel Kane of Bridgewater, MA.