Virginia Marie Dunn of Overland Park, KS passed away June 22, 2022, at her home in The Atriums at the age of 101 after a well-lived and meaningful life. A mass in her honor will be held at 10 a.m. at The Atriums on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, followed by reception with friends and family. She will be buried in Leavenworth National Cemetery next to her husband, Lt. Col. Maurice W. Dunn (Ret.) who passed away February 15, 1995. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to either Holy Cross Church of OP, Catholic Charities, or Ascend Hospice.
Virginia Marie, the only child of Grace and Gustav Hass, was born on February 4, 1921, in Onalaska, WI and grew up in LaCrosse, WI. Her father passed away when she was 15. She attended Aquinas High School where she played the French horn and was honored to portray the Blessed Virgin Mary in the school Christmas Extravaganza. After high school she worked as a printer and tinter in a photo shop.
She met her husband, Maurice W. Dunn, at a USO dance. It was love at first sight and he proposed three weeks later. They married two years later on Oct 13, 1945, when he returned from the WWII and were very much in love for 49 wonderful years until his death. She was the consummate Army wife moving and living all over the world: Cheyenne, Wy – Hammelburg, Germany – Ft. Riley, KS – Ft Eustis, VA – Okinawa, Japan - Colorado Springs, CO - Ft. Campbell, KY - Ankara, Turkey and retired from Ft. Riley, KS to Overland Park, KS where Maurice worked at KUMC as the Assistant Human Resources Director for 15 years. She was a devoted and loving mother to six children and fifteen grandchildren.
She was involved in Scouts, the Officers Wives Club, D.A.V. Auxiliary, past president of the Sunshine Club, Quilters and Crafters, and head of the Bereavement Group at Holy Cross Catholic Church, and a member of R.S.V.P. (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). She also worked on the ECHO, the Atriums newsletter, writing biographies of new residents. She loved embroidering towels to give back to her church and her friends and family, and loved to read, and do crossword puzzles! She was a kind, gentle lady who did not own a pair of slacks and always brightened the day of others with cards and her quick wit.
When asked what the secret to a long, happy life was, she replied, “A belief in God, a grateful heart, and all things in moderation (except children, because I had six)”.
She is survived by five sons; Col. Larry Dunn (Ret.), Douglasville, GA and his step-children Bruce Fountain and Jenny Norris; Dr. James M. Dunn, wife Cindi, Harker Heights, TX and their children Emily Dunn Anderson, Ethan and Trevor; Gregory M. Dunn and his child Ayden, Des Moines, IA; Ronald M. Dunn, wife Debbie, Marietta, GA and their children Nick and Brittany; and Kenneth Dunn, wife Olena and child Sofiya, Cairo, Egypt; and a daughter, Mary (Dunn) Landry, husband Ed, Katy, TX and their children Kate Van Norman, Elizabeth Landry Brinker, Felix and Delaney Landry. She is preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Maurice Dunn, daughter-in-law Betty Dunn and grandchild Cheryl Clifton.
She said when Maurice died that she felt like an Army wife again – as they were separated often during his military career but always knew they’d be together again. That day has come – they are together once again.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Atriums, where she called home for the last 14 years, and friends Barb and Terry Croft, who all cared for her in so many ways! The Atriums is filled with many of her friends, and special people like Lucille Tutera and Anthony Mendolia, Fr. Cullen and Fr. Waris, all of whom made her life full of joy.
Hers was a life well-lived!
