Michael Dunn

Our beloved husband and father Michael A. Dunn, 49, of Mount Vernon, IA passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday May 13th, 2023, due to long term medical complications, surrounded by his wife and son. Michael was born in Cleveland, OH on March 14th , 1974. At an early age, the family relocated to Indiana, where Michael graduated from Corydon High School in 1992. He then went on to earn a 2-year degree from Indiana University. Michael became a father to Samuel Michael on May 25th , 2005, and husband to Keoni on April 14th , 2012. Michael and Keoni were married, and they became a family at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Michael adored his wife and son dearly. He would go above and beyond to make sure they were happy and do anything and everything he could to make them laugh and smile. He would spoil them with all kinds of gifts (anything from Legos and flowers to tickets to see a favorite major league baseball player or take his wife to the Michigan Championship game to enjoy that exciting Win over those Iowa Hawkeyes). He always took them out to eat at their favorite places and would record their favorite tv shows or movies. He absolutely loved being in the same room s...[more]

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ding time together. Michael's primary focus was raising his son Samuel and watching him grow up. Their favorite past time together was playing baseball. Michael coached Samuel's team a couple years after Tee Ball, but before playing with the traveling leagues. Many afternoons/evenings/weekends were spent at the ball diamond hitting and fielding. In these last years, they also bonded over MLB The Show video game, where Samuel really learned a lot about the great players of the past and current players. They enjoyed talking stats and 'discussing' who was a better player. Of late, Michael's favorite player was Joey Votto. Michael's favorite holidays were his Birthday, Halloween, and Christmas. He loved to go big for all 3 of these, in addition to celebrating Samuel and Keoni's birthdays. Michael's birthday always fell during the week of Spring Break. As a tradition started when Samuel was young, Michael, Keoni and Samuel usually planned a trip of sorts to celebrate his birthday and go enjoy warmer weather. He loved decorating the house with all kinds of ghosts and pumpkins, decorations that had spooky sounds and voices, during Halloween season. For a period of time, he decorated the yard with lots of inflatables, lights, skeletons, and cemetery headstones. He'd repeatedly watched his favorite movie, the original John Carpenter version of Halloween with Michael Myers. He even had a cut out of Michael Myers he displayed this past year. Christmas was another favorite, where his house was decorated with multiple trees, and ambient lights that gave him and his family that warm, cozy feeling all through November and December. Yes, you read that correctly. Halloween decorations went up September 1st through October 31st , and Christmas went up November 1st through December 31st . Christmas was always a time of splurging on the fun little holiday treats and experiences. When Samuel was younger, he decorated all the walls with wrapping paper as if each room was a gift. He really enjoyed making hollies (green colored corn flakes with cinnamon imperials) with his son Samuel each year. He loved watching all the Christmas movies often (Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Will Ferrell's Elf, A Christmas Story, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and so many, many more.) His newest favorite was Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. His favorite saying since that movie came out was 'GOOD AFTERNOON'. Oh, how he'd get a giggle out of that phrase. Michael had several places he'd love to travel as often as he could. Frequent destinations included the Grand Canyon, AZ, Gatlinburg, TN, Myrtle Beach, SC, and all-time favorite Walt Disney World in Florida. The Smokey Mountains were gorgeous, and in the fall season, he and his family loved driving through the long and windy roads in the mountains to Cades Cove to see the changing colors and to see if they catch any momma bears and cubs out eating and frolicking. He enjoyed hiking up Laurel Falls to see a beautiful waterfall, and carried a golf club to ward any bears that didn't want to play nice. Walt Disney World was his favorite destination though. He just loved being there enjoying the Castle, the decorations at holiday times, riding rides and interacting with the characters (his guys were Mickey Mouse and Eeyore). He mastered how to maneuver through the parks to get the most out of every square inch. Michael wore Disney out when our family visited. Michael fell in love with the Cincinnati Reds at a young age and was a lifelong fan. He and his family always went to Opening Day and to multiple games each year. Even after moving to Iowa, Michael became a season ticket holder for a couple years. During that time, Cincinnati hosted the All-Star Game and events. It was such an exciting event to be a part of, as Samuel's favorite player at the time, Cincinnati Reds Todd Frasier won the Home Run Derby, and our family was there to see it in person! The last Reds game Michael attended was when the Reds played the Chicago Cubs at the Field of Dreams in 2022. Which was fitting, as the Field of Dreams was his #1 all-time favorite movie and place to go. He and Samuel even got to 'have a catch' with Kevin Costner at the Field during the 25th Movie Anniversary celebration in 2014. Michael was also a lifelong fan of Indiana University basketball. His love and excitement for them was so contagious, Keoni became a fan as well. They would go to a couple games each season and loved being part a huge win as Assembly Hall could be very raucous when fans and the student section were involved. He'd even whoop and holler (huge dunk or bad call by the refs) from his living room chair! Michael's home was decorated in a lot of IU and Reds décor. Lots of pictures of meeting players and memorabilia. Michael was a loving and handsome soul; he will be sorely missed by Keoni and Samuel. He was a devoted father and adoring husband. Michael lived to the fullest in many ways. He touched many lives in his own special way and those who knew him loved him whole heartily. Our hearts will continue to ache in sadness, and our secret tears will flow, what it means to lose you, no one will ever know. We love you! Michael is survived by his wife, Keoni; son, Samuel; mother, Jean (Arvel) Mosier; sister, Mary (Steven) Smith; mother-in-law, Wendy (Jim) Frentress; father-in-law, Kevin Kuper; sister-in-law, Steffanie Kuper; brother-in-law, Ken (Angie) Kuper; brother-in-law, Gary Kuper; brother-in-law, Justin Frentress; brother- in-law, Jordan (Lis) Frentress; 10 nieces and nephews, and 7 great-nieces and nephews; ex-wife, Laura (Samuel's mother). Michael is preceded in death by Arvel Mosier (stepfather). The celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 20th , 2023, from 2pm - 4pm, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services (715 10th Ave SW, Mt Vernon, IA 52314). All friends and family are welcome to join our celebration. The family asks that donations be made to Keoni & Samuel Dunn, sent to 6152 24th Ave, Vinton, IA 52349, instead of flowers or other gifts. Care and services for Michael and his family has been entrusted to Celebrate Life Iowa.