Glenn Eric Dunn

Butch/Glenn/Papa/Opa was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 4, 1945. He was the son of Eric Vester (E.V.) Dunn Jr. and Bobbie Laverne Reynolds. Though E.V. knew that Glenn was to be born, he was tragically never able to meet him before being killed in action in the skies over Germany. Glenn never met his father, but he gained a Daddy when Bobbie remarried Archibald (Archie) McCurry. Soon he had a baby brother, Gary Wilkes McCurry.

Glenn grew up all over the U.S. as the family moved frequently due to Archie’s naval career – Seattle, Honolulu, Beeville, and San Diego. He made annual trips back to Texas where his family and his heart lived. After graduating from Chula Vista High School in 1963, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Technical Theater.

After graduating college, Glenn voluntarily enlisted in the Army. Heading to infantry school, and ultimately Germany, he served as a parachutist and earned the rank of Second Lieutenant. After being discharged from the Army in 1972, Glenn stayed in Europe to see a bit of the world. He traveled all over Europe, ultimately landing for a bit in Sitges, Spain. The living was easy and cheap, so Glenn earned his peseta’s playing guitar and singing Irish folk songs in bars. At every performance, he would ask a pretty lady from the crowd to pass the hat. One July evening at Bar Dubliner in Sitges, that lady was a lovely Dutchie on holiday, Hendrina (Ineke) Vercouteren. A month later he landed on her doorstep in the Netherlands, and on December 29, 1972, (50 years ago) they were married. The American man met his Dutch lady at an Irish bar in Spain.

In April 1973 they moved to Texas, eventually landing in Austin. In March 1975 Marita was born and in May 1977 Elke was born. They found their forever home in South Austin. Glenn worked to build his career by joining the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 205, and IATSE Studio Mechanics Union, Local 484 working behind the scenes in the Austin performing arts scene. His technical theater experience included designing and constructing scenery and props, hanging and operating stage lighting, and working during the show as a stage technician. He loved working the fly rail. His talents touched thousands of concerts, ballets, operas, and plays. He worked the 1984 Olympics. He toured with the Broadway musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story. He helped build the set for the children’s show Carrascolendas. He worked in television and film including several Willie Nelson movies (Honeysuckle Rose, Red Headed Stranger, Songwriter); Kevin Costner movies (Tin Cup and A Perfect World); and others including (but not limited to) Raggedy Man, the TV show Dallas, Tender Mercies, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Nadine, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part II, Year of the Dragon, The Alamo, Miss Congeniality, and Idiocracy. Every Christmas he worked the Nutcracker Ballet but hearing the music outside of performances often made him cringe. He retired in 2017. When he went to the movies he sat through the entire credits to see if he knew anyone involved and to pay tribute to those who work so hard behind the scenes in film.

Glenn was both the life of the party and a gentle soul. He loved beer, unfiltered cigarettes, bacon, and his family. He loved to sing, tell great stories, and debate politics. He was fiercely proud of his accomplishments and of his girls. He was a proud union man. He loved to learn and was the king of Trivial Pursuit beating us EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. – and playing with the Silver Screen Edition (can you even imagine?). He loved woodworking, all things Irish, and movies. He finally visited Ireland at age 60, embarking on a solo adventure where he made many friends. He had (and we still have) a collection of THOUSANDS of VHS recordings of movies/TV shows. He used his Commodore 64 computer to create an electronic library so we could find what we wanted. He did not have a Blockbuster membership. If you are looking for lost episodes of Alf, Northern Exposure, and Murphy Brown, let us know.

Unfortunately, dementia robbed him of his ferocity, his stories, and his quick wit. COVID created a forced loneliness. Ineke cared for him tirelessly until the end. He was able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by his family. We will miss him beyond measure. Please raise a glass for him.

Glenn was preceded in death by his father E.V. Dunn, Jr., Mother Bobbie McCurry, Daddy Archie McCurry, brother Gary McCurry, and double cousins (their mothers were sisters and fathers were brothers) Gwen Dunn Hopper and Jackie Fred Dunn.

He is survived by his wife Ineke Dunn; daughters Marita Stollenwerk and Elke Ursin; sons-in-law Charles (Chuck) Stollenwerk and August Ursin; grandchildren Vonne, Jasper, and Ellen Stollenwerk and Ady Ursin; double cousin Carolyn Coin; and lots of other family.

The family wants to send a special thank you to Berkley UMC and the absolute best neighbors for all their love, help, and support.

Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023, from 11 am to 2 pm at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas 78749.

In lieu of flowers please donate in his memory to the Austin Humane Society or to Alzheimer’s Disease Research through the BrightFocus Foundation.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. It will be a party not to be missed.