Francis Clinton Dunham, 77, passed away on April 4, 2019, while wintering in Surprise, Ariz. Fran was born in Kalamazoo on April 3, 1942, and lived in Allegan County his entire life.
Fran was a 1960 graduate of Plainwell High School. He was a talented electrician and mechanic, and could fix nearly everything. He was also an avid outdoorsman, and spent many hours hunting, often with his good friend and cousin Leon Dimond.
Fran put his numerous talents to use on the farm near Otsego, where he and his wife Sharon kept a large vegetable garden, as well as a number of horses, goats, pigs, chickens, an occasional steer, and a peacock named Oscar.
He was a fan of car racing, and friends may remember him from the time he spent at Kalamazoo Speedway.
After retiring from General Motors, Fran and Sharon enjoyed traveling, and they particularly enjoyed the southwest, where they spent many winters.
Fran was preceded in death by his parents, Vaughan and Elgie May (Burger) Dunham; by a daughter Lauri Bradstreet; and by a sister Jan Stevens.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon (Finch) Dunham; a son Mark Dunham of Kalamazoo; half-brother Gary Dunham of Otsego; and two grandchildren, Chad Bradstreet of Knoxville, Tenn. and Alexandria Bradstreet of Nashville, Tenn.; as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and there will be no service.
Memorials in Fran’s name may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
“We can’t choose what we want and don’t want and that’s the hard lonely truth. Sometimes we want what we want even if we know it’s going to kill us. We can’t escape who we are.”—Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch
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