Obituary: Dunn, Darreld E.
DUNN, Darreld E.
Darreld Elmer Dunn, 72, died on August 7, 2012 at the Providence Extended Care in Anchorage, Alaska due to cancer.
A service and potluck will be held at 2:00 pm, August 18, 2012 at the Palmer Elks Lodge.
Darreld’s ashes will be scattered in North Idaho.
Darreld was born November 23, 1940 in Corona, California to Marcus Dunn and Lilly Johnson.
After Darreld received his high school diploma he joined the Army; he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska from 1959-1964.
Before Darreld became an Alaskan resident in 2007, he formally lived in Athol, Idaho.
Darreld retired from Kaiser Aluminum in Trentwood, WA.
He enjoyed restoring old cars, hunting, and fishing.
The family wrote, “Darreld was a kind, gentle, caring, soul that wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he thought was right.”
In 1962 Darreld started developing his love of racing at Deer Park, Washington.
He won many trophies and set many track records in his 1962 Chevy Impala SS.
He competed in the NHRA division 6 races, later becoming a member of the Dukes Auto Car Club, “The First Finest & Fastest.”
His passion for the sport of racing was off and running.
Dad became known as the pit boss when he and his son Chris started drag racing in Spokane, WA.
He later became pit boss for Polaris snowmobiles, grass, and asphalt drags for Chris and Debra Ayers.
In the year of 2000 his granddaughter Chelsea, at the age of 3, joined the “Dunn To Perfection Team.”
They traveled around the Inland Northwest including Yellowstone and Montana.
They competed in all the snow and grass drags they could find.
After taking a couple of years off he recently went back and pitted for his son-in-law, Dan Saputski’s ice racing team “Dunn To Perfection” in Big Lake, Alaska.
When he wasn’t pitting he loved to hunt, fish, watch the speed channel, and his favorite baseball team, The Mariners.
I know his wisdom of racing and mechanical knowledge will be greatly missed.
We love you Dad.
Drive fast up there!!!!”
Mr.
Dunn is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie Dunn of Wasilla, AK; son and his significant other, Chris Dunn and Debra Ayers of Athol, ID; daughter and son-in-law, Allison Dunn and Dan Saputski of Wasilla, AK; granddaughter, Chelsea Saputski of Wasilla, AK; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Ted Adams of Coeur d’Alene, ID; granddaughter, Nicole Dunbar of Coeur d’Alene, ID; grandsons, Joseph Schmitz and Keith Schmitz of Coeur d’Alene, ID; great-grandchildren, Mary-Jane Dunbar, Marcus Dunbar, David Schmitz; and numerous niece and nephews.
Mr.
Dunn is preceded in death by mother, Lilly Johnson; father, Marcus Dunn; step-father, Russell Johnson; brothers, Gary, Keith, and Phillip Dunn; and sister, Harriet Sullivan.
Memorial donations can be made to: American Diabetes Association, hhtp://m.diabetes.org Or 801 W. Fireweed Ln; Suite 103, Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Arrangements were cared for by VALLEY FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, WASILLA, AK.
An online guestbook and obituary may be visited at alaskanfuneral.com