Michael Lee Dunn, 78, of Galesburg passed away on Thursday October 19, 2023 at home. He was born June 6, 1945 in Decatur, IL to Richard and Lora Retha Dunn. He married Mary Ellen Bowman on October 15, 1965 in Galesburg, IL. She preceded him in death on October 25, 2022 after 57 years of marriage. He is survived by his children, Michele (Sam) Still of Tennessee, Jason (Amber) Dunn of Galesburg, and Abby (Ty) Putnam of Gilson, his grandchildren, Sydney, Corben, Cassidy, Libby, Allyn, Kyra, Leah, Craig, Layne, and Ryan, his sister, Suzy Driscoll of Wyoming, IL and his sister-in-law, Lorelei Neal of Kankakee, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Richard “Dick” Dunn and Doug Dunn, his sister Cindy Dunn, his in-laws Earl and Georgia Bowman, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Jan Bowman, and his brother-in-law, Elden Neal.
Michael graduated from Toulon High School where he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He attended Brown’s Business College in Galesburg from 1964 to 1965. He was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam war and was stationed at Fort Ord on Monterey Bay in California where he worked in the finance department. He was a sales manager at Sears for several years. He later owned Goff’s Appliances in Knoxville until 1986. For the remainder of his career, he managed life insurance and annuity investments at his own agency.
Mike loved to golf and spent countless days with friends at Lake Bracken Country Club including one of his closest friends, “Tom” England. Sharing interest in sports like softball, football, and especially golf with his children and grandchildren really made him happy. He enjoyed caring for his lawn and landscaping. He could always find a good bargain on tools or equipment at Lowe’s.
During retirement he spent time on woodworking projects and making improvements on rental property he and Mary owned. He and Mary enjoyed several winters in La Belle, Florida.
Mike and Mary spent lots of time caring for their grandchildren. Their home served as a place for cousins to be together and play together when they were young and grandpa always made sure they had places to play and projects to work on.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A celebration of life will be 1:00 PM, Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Hidden Hills Winery, 120 Hidden Drive, Knoxville. Military rites will be conducted at conducted at 1:00 PM. Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home and Crematory, Knoxville are in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the National Rifle Association or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Expressions of sympathy may be left to the family at www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
