Robert Earl “Butch” Dunham, 75, Akeley, died peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, after a very brief battle with cancer.
A celebration of Butch’s life will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 11, at First Lutheran Church in Akeley. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Robert “Butch” Dunham was born on Dec. 1, 1943, to Murel and Evelyn (Funk) Dunham in Walker. He attended school in Akeley until 11th grade. He joined the Navy and served for four years, from 1961 to 1964.
He married Carole Bowman in November of 1969. They lived in Luverne, where he worked as a park ranger at three different parks for about six years: Blue Mounds State Park, Carley State Park, and Minnesota Valley State Park. During this time they had two children.
They moved to Akeley in 1976 and had two more children. Butch worked on the electrical high lines until he was injured. He divorced in 1987 but continued to live in Akeley. He worked several jobs, from owning and operating a bar to spraying chemicals for weed control to cooking at the local restaurant until he was forced to retire due to health issues.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, baking, gardening, drinking coffee, visiting with family and friends and just relaxing outside watching cars go by.
He is survived by four children, Jason Dunham (Brandi) of Akeley, Jacalyn Dunham (Charlie) of Maple Plain, Jana Dunham (Matt) of Akeley, and Jessica Dunham of Akeley; seven grandchildren, Zane, Derek, Kaia, Zuri, Nevaya, Deyla, and Keanu a.k.a. “Kokomo”; girlfriend Nancy Grejtak; two sisters, Sue (Todd) Tobias and Dawn Dunham; in-laws Eugenia Dunham and Duane and Cina Pidde; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, Devin; his parents, Murel and Evelyn Dunham; brothers Jim, John and Laurel Dunham; sisters Jeanne Schuur, Audrey Pidde and Helen Taylor; brother-in-law Lloyd Schuur; niece Terri Hanson; and nephew Shane Dunham.
Arrangements are provided by Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, www.northernpeace.com.
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