Daniel's Obituary
Retired Air Force Captain Daniel James Dunn was born on December 11, 1944, in Dixon, Illinois to James and Charlotte (Ankeny) Dunn. He passed away on November 7, 2023, after an unexpected illness while on a trip to Minneapolis, MN. He was 78.
A celebration of life is being held on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Falls, MT. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Dan spent most of his childhood between Blue Earth, MN and Denver, CO. While in Denver, he earned his Eagle Scout, built a backyard pond for fun, and fell in love with the landscape of the Rockies.
Dan met the love of his life, Katherine, during a two week stay in Owatonna, MN, before moving again and graduating from Blue Earth High School in 1962. A state wrestler and track star in Colorado, he missed senior year sports due to moving. After a year at Mankato State College, Dan enlisted in the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Army in 1963. The next few years he spent mastering martial arts, and he qualified for the Olympic Judo team.
In 1967, Dan married his high school sweetheart in Owatonna, MN. The Air Force stationed them in Omaha, the Azores, Portugal, San Antonio, and Topeka before settling at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT in 1970. During his 20 years, Dan worked military police, Safe-Side and SAC, and retired with honors as the Chief Executive Officer for Malmstrom in 1983. His military education included a BA from Bellevue College, an MBA from the University of Montana, and a Master of Arts in counseling from Pepperdine University, to name a few.
Dan and Kathy chose Great Falls to raise their three children and developed life-long friendships with most of the town. As a community leader, Dan volunteered with youth programs, 4-H, high school sports, soccer leagues, refereeing, teaching, and becoming the resident “Dan the Lawn Man” for his 256 neighbors in the Highwoods. He also invested nearly three decades teaching business classes at Park University, helping fellow servicemen get degrees until the day he was hospitalized in MN.
When Dan wasn’t remodeling a trailer for a neighbor or driving his lawn tractor, he could be found mentoring local businesses in town, often as a silent partner disguised as a loyal customer. He had the best rose garden around and grew fresh garlic and onions for Kathy. Dan loved hosting exchange students; it was his excuse to visit Glacier for landscape photography. And he was always looking forward to the next good soak at White Sulfur Springs.
Dan never retired from life. Like his father, he was an industrious problem solver with a somewhat stubborn Irish streak. He demonstrated great love for his family, watching over and protecting them until his death.
Dan is survived by his wife of 56.41 years, Katherine (Maixner) Dunn of Great Falls; his three children, Chelle (Scott Schrader) Herbruger of Great Falls, Robert (Julie) Dunn of Owatonna, MN, and Eric (Cara) Dunn of Great Falls; and thirteen surviving grandchildren, Byron Dunn of ND, Justin Herbruger of WA, Kelvin Herbruger of WA, Kyle Herbruger of WA, Isabel Herbruger of WA, Bailey Schrader of MT, Chase Schrader of MT, Derek Dunn of MN, Avery Dunn of MN, Kaeden Dunn of MT, Aalayah Dunn of MT, Angelito Dunn of MT, and Saint Dunn of MT. Also left to cherish his memory are sisters, Kathleen Polikowsky of Rochester, MN and Susan (Robert) Elmore of Ozark, MO. Dan was also blessed to have nieces, Jenny and Emily; and nephews, Chris and Alex in his life; special grand-friends, John and Katherine; best friends, Steve and Jerry Burg; plus many more friends and cousins around the world.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Charlotte Dunn; brother, Richard Dunn; and grandson, Keenen Dunn.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Keenen Dunn Scholarship fund, Central Catholic High School in Great Falls, MT.
