David E. Dunn

David Dunn, 91, passed away on October 24, 2023, at Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living. Per his wishes his body was donated to the Mayo Clinic. There will be no services.  The family thanks Kentucky Ridge for the tremendous care provided to David. Memorials may be directed to the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, 122 S Adams Ave.

David (Old Dave, Davey) Earle Dunn was born December 27, 1931, at Story Hospital in Mason City, Iowa to Charles Arthur and Helen Holbrook Dunn. At about 3 years of age, he and his mother were taken in by his grandparents, Claude and Mable Holbrook, where he resided until age 18. He attended Monroe and Washington schools and graduated From Mason City school with the class of 1949. May 13, 1950, he married his high school sweetheart Marion Elaine Faulk.

He worked at the Mason City Drive Inn Theater, Cordle Harley Davidson, and Armco Drainage and Metal Products. He then spent 34 years with Lehigh Portland Cement company doing many jobs including quarry foreman and storeroom clerk. After retirement he enjoyed being a car jockey for Lyons Toyota, Dodge, but the job Dave liked the best was the 2 years he worked on the dock at Younkers.

Dave and Elaine loved to travel and had been in 44 of the 48 states and Canada. In their younger years they loved to dance, especially at the Surf Ballroom. Music was always a big part of Dave's life, and he enjoyed playing many instruments, including the guitar. Some of the most fun Dave ever had was playing is their family, neighborhood bluegrass band. Dave also loved trains and spent many years collecting and playing with his large basement layout. He was a charter member of the Central Iowa Garden Railway Society and had belonged to many other train clubs in his life.

When Dave was about 9 years old, he talked his mother into taking him to a jalopy race at the old Mason City Fairgrounds. He was too short to see good and his poor mother ended up being covered with dust, but Dave loved it and was a race fan ever since and attended races all over the country including the Daytona and Indy 500s. Before marrying Elaine, Dave loved to ride his motorcycles, and spent many hours on them day and night. Later in life he enjoyed computers and spent much of his time on one. He also enjoyed having coffee with his friends at the mall and Hy-Vee.

Most of all Dave loved Elaine, his children, his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, and his great, great grandchildren. He was very proud of his large family. He loved having his grandkids come over and hang out with him.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Elaine, his children, Linda Shaw, Jim, Elkader, IA, David R Dunn, Geri, Mike Dunn, Shari, Kathy Kenney, Doug, Mason City, and Wendy Thompson, Kyle, Rockford. He also has 14 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 8 great, great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents; granddaughter, Megan Dunn Blunt; stepfather Howard G Nelson; an uncle, aunts and cousins.