John Elwood Dunn, 75, passed away May 9, 2023, in his home where he lived with his wife of 33 years, Lynn Dunn.
He is also survived by his stepdaughter, whom he raised since she was 10 years of age, Stacy L. Westfall and her husband Karl Leibfacher of Dayton; his son Jason Dunn of Indiana from a previous marriage, his step-son Brian Heppeard and partner Merril Cox of Piqua, and granddaughter Kylee Heppeard and partner Jordan Yates of Indiana. John was the second oldest of 8 children by parents Marcella and Forest Dunn: Connie Slayton of Arcanum; Vern Dunn (wife Sally) of West Carrolton; Dennis Dunn (wife Deb) of Danville, Indiana; Kim Dunn (partner George Hanlon) of Troy; and siblings who have sadly passed away: Karen Dunn of Arcanum; Keith Dunn (wife Brenda) of Cincinnati; and Faye Dunn of Greenville. He was Uncle John to numerous nieces and nephews, and of course had cousins as well. He loved his large and extended family.
John grew up with his siblings in Darke County Ohio working on his Grandparents’, Minnie and Karl Kueterman’s farm, as well as his parent’s and neighbor’s farms. He graduated from Franklin Monroe High School in 1968, then immediately enlisted in the Marine Core where he would spend 3 years as a combat photographer in the Vietnam War.
After returning from the war, he worked at Warner Grove Farm (which he had co-opted in high school), and then S.S. Shuff and Sons Tractor supply with his dad, Forest, where he was certified to work on small engines. His dad encouraged him to branch out, and he started a new trade at F&M contractors, which sadly went out of business shortly after. John found new employment at Baumer Construction where he worked from 1990 until his retirement in 2014.
John and his wife Lynn were avid gardeners who worked side by side over the years to transform the originally rough and weedy plot of land surrounding their home into a lush garden paradise for hummingbirds and other fauna. John built a cute chicken coop with a large run, and a lovely potting shed for Lynn—which may in fact be the first “she shed.”
He always fixed everything himself in his own special way—which his wife is still discovering, as she attempts the home maintenance without him.
In his retirement, John unfurled his creative side, to everyone’s delight. He created beautiful and unique bird houses and bird feeders, jewelry boxes, miniature farms complete with chickens, stage coaches and chuck wagons, garden decorations, and even paintings. He also painted the “Little Free Library” with iconic Dayton scenes for Stacy
and Karl’s local park. He made these creations with his beautiful hands, until the neuropathy from the cancer treatment rendered his hands unable. John was known to be an honorable, patient and kind hearted man with elegant handwriting and a truly unique sense of humor (Stacy calls them “John jokes”; similar to “Dad jokes”, but better and more surreal.) He loved TV westerns and western novels, number fill-it-in puzzles, hummingbirds, mowing his lawn and bread with more butter than perhaps was necessary. He never complained once in all his life, and he accepted everyone for exactly who they were and met them exactly where they are. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend. He was a Vietnam Veteran, who always said, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” Semper Fi.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday June 3, 2023 in the Zechar Bailey Funeral Home Greenville, Ohio with Pastor Scott Trittschuh officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM and The Greenville Veterans Honor Guard will conduct Full Military Honors in the funeral home. It is the wishes of the family that Memorial Contributions be given to EverHeart Hospice of Darke County. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.zecharbailey.com.
