Robert Earl Dunham

Robert Earl Dunham, age 75, of Akeley, MN passed away peacefully at home on February 28, 2019 after a very brief battle with cancer. Butch was born on December 1, 1943 in Walker, MN to Murel and Evelyn (Funk) Dunham.  He attended school in Akeley, MN until 11th grade.  He joined the Navy and served our country for 4 years, from 1961 to 1964.  He married Carole Bowman in November of 1969.  They lived in Luverne, MN where he worked as a Park Ranger at three different parks for about 6 years; Blue Mound State Park, Carley State Park, and Minnesota Valley State Park.  During this time they had two children. They moved to Akeley, MN 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 different 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 and BSing with family and friends, just sitting outside watching cars go by, and napping in his lawn chair. Butch will be dearly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his four children Jason Dunham (Brandi) of Akeley, MN, Jacalyn Dunham (Charlie) of Maple Plain, MN, Jana Dunham (Matt) of Akeley, MN, and Jessica Dunham of Akeley, MN, 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 & Cina Pidde, many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He is preceded in death by his grandson, Devin, parents, Murel & 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.

A celebration of Butch’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, March 11, 2019 at First Lutheran Church, Akeley, MN.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service also at the church.  Pastor Carleton Smee will officiate.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

Butch’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN.

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