John Robert Dunn

He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on July 28, 1952, to Robert Sigler Dunn and Barbara Rigdon Dunn, the second of their three children.

John attended elementary school and junior high school in Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Washington High School in 1970, where he played trombone and acted in musical theater productions. He was president of Concert Choir during which time the Choir toured Europe.

In 1974, John graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics, then a master’s degree in 1977 and ultimately a PhD in Economics in 1989 from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

In 1975 John married Patricia Campbell, whom he met at Iowa State. They lived 3 years in Des Moines and moved to Virginia in 1978 for John's employment with the Department of Agriculture. He held various positions at USDA, rising in management and spending the entirety of his career working with Cooperative Development at home and abroad, spending much time in Africa. He retired in 2011, consulting part time for several years afterward. John and Pat had two children, Colin and Haley. His 30 year marriage to Pat ended in 2005.

As in his professional life, his highly competitive spirit showed in his various leisure pursuits. John played softball on the D.C. Mall and basketball with USDA colleagues. He was an accomplished distance runner, completing 10 marathons (6 Marine Corps and 4 Boston). He competed in several triathlons. He attained a black belt in Tang Soo Do and taught the discipline. John also enjoyed playing basketball for many years with the men of St. James Catholic Church every Sunday night.

In 2018 John married Enkhtuya “Tuya” Byambadorj, with whom he lived in their home in Falls Church. Together, they enjoyed John’s love of painting, gardening and cooking. They traveled to destinations including Key West, Ocean City, Miami, and Mongolia. Their partnership was marked by companionship, shared passions, and lasting memories.

Since 2011, when his first of five grandchildren was born, John has been a doting, loving, and attentive grandfather. As he was with his own children, he has been involved with his grandchildren’s sports and activities. He has faithfully and enthusiastically cheered their many interests from the audience or the sidelines.

John is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Tuya, his son, Colin Dunn and daughter-in-law, Ee Dunn, and their children, Leo and Rae, of Falls Church, Virginia, and his daughter, Haley Dunn Bury and son-in-law, Michael Bury and their children, Penny, Johnny and Dougie of Fairfax, Virginia. He is also survived by his sister, Anne, and brother-in-law, Dave Stockman of Chesterfield, Missouri and his brother, Mark and sister-in-law, Becky Dunn of Columbus, Ohio, along with nieces Katherine and Olivia, nephews, Kyle and Andrew, and grand-nephews, Caleb, Eli, and William.

John Dunn is loved by many and will be missed.