David S. Dunlap

Dunlap, David S.
Jan. 21, 1936 - Jul. 14, 2015
David S. Dunlap, 79, passed away peacefully at his home in Rockford, IL on July 14, 2015, following a valiant two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. On being diagnosed with the latter disease in August 2013, he said 'It is what it is' and accepted his eventual fate while at the same time stating his clear resolve to live every remaining day of his life to the fullest.
David was born January 21, 1936, in Elgin, IL and raised in Woodstock, IL, the eldest of four children of Robert Joseph and Carol Dunlap, who, together with an infant brother, Donald, predeceased him. David attended the public schools in Woodstock and graduated in the Class of 1954 from Woodstock Community High School where he, as a highly competitive athlete, lettered in five different sports. He then attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. As a result of working in a gas station while in high school, he became a talented mechanic, purchased his own car, and 'customized' it. In 1955 he became a lineman for Illinois Bell Telephone Company, a subsidiary of ATT. He joined the United States Army in 1957, attended its electronic school at Fort Monmouth, NJ, spent thirteen months in South Korea, and received an Honorable Discharge as a Specialist IV in 1960. As a result of his training and experience with electronics in the U.S. Army, he returned to Illinois Bell, initially as a lineman, but with his new electronics skills was soon promoted to a technician in the newly developed Direct Distance Dialing Switching Offices in Rockford, IL where he constructed, maintained, and repaired these facilities which were state-of-the-art at the time. By enhancing his technical and managerial skills through the numerous in-house training opportunities offered by Illinois Bell, David rose rapidly to supervisor of the latter operation and in last fifteen or so of his over thirty years with the company also served as a public affairs liaison for Illinois Bell with the appropriate city, county, and state governmental offices in Northern Illinois. The public affairs liaison position brought many opportunities for community involvement, especially those that interfaced with his passionate interests in sports. Besides playing and officiating ice hockey for many years, David played a pivotal role by encouraging and supporting the Rockford Park District in researching the possibility of creating a local ice rink in the 1970's. His involvement in the design, construction, and development of Riverview Ice House was a huge reason the facility was built and served as a foundation for the success it has achieved over the past forty years.
As a result of his retirement at age 55, he pursued many interests such as golf, fishing, traveling, and especially breadmaking and the gifting of a variety of loaves to relatives and his many friends, and he approached each of these passions with a vigor commonly associated with taking on a new challenging corporate assignment. Many weeks during the summer were spent fishing and enjoying nature at Pardee Lake in northern Wisconsin while October through April found him golfing mainly at the Prestancia TPC Club in Sarasota, FL. David was a longtime member at the Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club in Rockford and Prestancia TPC in Sarasota, FL, and he had legions of friends up north and in Rockford and Sarasota. His passion for baking and giving bread ranged from Pardee Lake to Rockford and on to Sarasota where his friends gave him a statue of a breadbaker, honoring him with the inscription: 'Breadmaker of Prestancia'.
David is survived by his loving wife, Flora Mann Bauman Dunlap, whom he married on September 13, 1980. His previous marriage to the former Marlene Dehmlow was blessed with their children, Robert (Sharon) Dunlap, Annette Dunlap, Denise (Mike Burke) Nerad, and Steven (Debbie) Dunlap; his stepsons, Brad Bauman, Rob Bauman; grandchildren, Shawn, Callie, Joey, Sara; step grandchildren, Crystal, Courtney, Chelsea, and Taylor. Other survivors include his sister Barbara Dunlap (Ray) Oughton of Woodstock, his brother Robert Bruce (Patricia) Dunlap of Miami, FL, and Aunt Mildred Bridge and Uncle Tom (Gil) of Derry, PA as well as many nieces and nephews.
Friends and family are invited to gather from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at the Schneider Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home: 1211 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL. A Celebration of the Life of David Dunlap will begin at 2:00 pm, July 21, 2015, at the Funeral Home. Interment will be private.