Mary Ann Dunkin

Mary Ann Dunkin passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on July 28, 2011, after battling Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. MARY ANN HENDRICKSON DUNKIN, first child of MARION C. HENDRICKSON and GRACE E. GROFF, was born Sunday, 14 July 1929, at the Hendrickson family farm north of Nodaway, Adams County, Iowa. She was baptized on Mothers' Day, 8 May 1932, with her sister, Deloris Jean, at the Nodaway Methodist Episcopal Church. While her future husband, USAF PFC Ben Dunkin, was attending radar school in Florida, Mary Ann was enjoying her senior year at Nodaway High School. She was busy with classes, playing forward on the girls basketball team, was a cheerleader, editor of the school paper, and participated in music and drama. Mary Ann graduated from Nodaway High School on 11 May 1947. After graduation she attended Iowa State Teachers Extension College, earning a Limited Elementary Teaching Certificate. She taught country school in Montgomery and Page Counties, Iowa for two years before she married. She attended Nodaway Consolidated School Nodaway all 12 years and had never attended a country school. It was different in her new job with all eight grades in one room! Teachers were needed after WWII. She was not too thrilled to be teaching though, because in her heart of hearts she wanted to go to the University of Iowa and study journalism. Mary Ann, married on Sunday, 26 June 1949, Nodaway Methodist Church, in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Deloris, to BENJAMIN LEE DUNKIN, son of FRED B. DUNKIN and ANNA E. LINN. Mary Ann and Ben and Deloris and Marvin Peterson celebrated their double Golden Wedding Anniversary on 26 June 1999. Ben served 26 years in the US Air Force on active duty. He retired as Chief Master Sergeant on 30 August 1972, to Fort Collins, having been stationed in Texas, Florida, Alaska, South Dakota, Kentucky, Mississippi, Newfoundland, California, Japan, Vietnam and Michigan. Their first home was in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Ben was stationed. Their second home was at Marks AFB, Nome, Alaska, where they celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary. Their first child, Ronda Lee, was born at Ladd AFB, Alaska. Their second child, Denese Ann, was born at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Their third daughter, Lisa Renee' was born in Sacramento, California. Mary Ann found time to serve as a room mother in her daughters' various classrooms from Newfoundland to California and Japan, and was active in PTA, a Girl Scout Mother and leader, and taught Bible School at the Methodist Church in Nome, Alaska, which included children from the Eskimo Methodist Church, and in various Base Chapel programs. She loved spending her spare time sewing dresses, etc. for her three daughters. While stationed in Japan, she and Ben were active members with their Square Dance Club and again in Roseville, California, where they were members with the Lad and Lassie Square Dance Club. She became interested in genealogy in 1979 which turned into a very interesting hobby; she wrote several family history books. Retiring to Fort Collins, Colorado, Ben was employed with the Poudre R-1 School District for 13 years, and Mary Ann was employed in the business office at LCVTC for 10 years. When fully retired, they enjoyed extensively traveling and visiting with friends and family. They also loved going to their grandchildren's many events. Mary Ann and Ben were members of Christ United Methodist Church and the Adult Sunday School class since arriving in Fort Collins in August 1972. Mary Ann served a term as trustee, and was on the admin board and worship committee. Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 62 years, Benjamin Lee Dunkin; three daughters, Ronda Rastler Dan of San Jose, CA, Denese Van Dyne Brian Beasley of Atlanta, GA, Lisa Martin Scott of Ft. Collins, CO; two sisters, Deloris Peterson of Villisca, IA, and Janis Davis Lowell of Ft. Collins, CO; four grandchildren, Eric Rastler Jennifer De Rose of San Jose, CA, Christina Seals David of Roseville, CA, Melinda Martin of Ft. Collins, CO, Lucas Martin of Ft. Collins, CO; one great-grandchild, Dylan Seals of Roseville, CA; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives; and numerous wonderful friends. We, her family, are grateful to and thankful for the loving care Mary Ann received from the staff at Pathways Hospice at McKee Medical Center; the staff in the Oncology Unit and Infusion Center at Poudre Valley Hospital; and Dr. Miho T. Scott and other staff at the Cancer Center of the Rockies. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, 10 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 301 E. Drake Rd. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m., Monday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church or Pathways Hospice in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524.