Dr. William Joseph Dunn

1925 - 2015

Dunn, Dr. William Joseph
Aged 90, of Phoenix, Airzona passed away on November 21, 2015. Dr. Dunn was born on July 17, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Richard Joseph Dunn and Margaret Jennett Dunn. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1945, where he participated in the V-12 Navy College Training program. He then studied at the University of Illinois, where he received his medical degree and served in the U.S. Navy. While in medical school, he met his wife, Mary Ertel Dunn, who was in the University of Illinois Pharmacy School. He continued his medical training at Philadelphia General, and then at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester where he received a Masters degree in medicine from the University of Minnesota. In 1955, they moved to Champaign, Illinois where he practiced cardiology at the Carle Clinic. Looking for a warmer climate and a good place to raise a family, they moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1958 where he started a private practice in internal medicine with a specialty in cardiology. He was a practicing physician for more than fifty years and dedicated extensive volunteer time to the St. Vincent DePaul medical clinic and caring for clergy in the Phoenix area. He was frequently recognized for his professional and community service efforts, including the Dr. Thomas Dooley Medal (1973), the Davis Medal of Humanitarianism (1989) and the Honored Physician (1992) awards from St. Joseph Hospital, and the Arizona Medical Society Humanitarian Award (1996). Dr. Dunn was also a Knight of Obedience in the Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout his years, Dr. Dunn was an avid reader, an enthusiastic tennis player and stamp/coin collector, but is most remembered as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Dr. Dunn is survived by his wife, Mary, his children Mary Patrice Dunn Kleiber (husband, Martin J. Kleiber) of Milwaukee, WI, William Joseph Dunn, Jr. of Daytona Beach, FL, Charles Richard Dunn (wife, Zohreh Kazemi Dunn) of Tucson, AZ, Timothy Jennett Dunn (wife, Rhanda Kahawaii Dunn) of San Francisco, CA, and Kathryn Dunn Tenpas (husband, Ronald J. Tenpas) of Chevy Chase, MD. In addition, he is survived by fourteen grandchildren: Lisa M. Dunn, Lauren P. Dunn, Michael W. Dunn, Devin T. Dunn, Margaret Ann Kleiber, Megan E. Dunn, Nicholas C. Kleiber, Matthew C. Dunn, Andrew R. Dunn, Nathaniel J. Tenpas, Hannah E. Dunn, Grace E. Dunn, John M. Dunn and William E. Tenpas; and two great grandchildren, Gabriel L. Dunn deJong and Xavier N. Dunn deJong; and his brothers Richard J. Dunn, Robert J. Dunn and Edwin R. Dunn, preceded in death by Margaret M. Dunn, Kathleen Dunn Brand, Rydell J. Dunn, and John J. Dunn. A wake is scheduled for Monday, November 23, 2015 at the Whitney and Murphy Funeral Home in Phoenix, Arizona, for friends from 6-8pm. A funeral mass is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 4pm, Brophy Chapel. Father Al Naucke, S.J., a long time friend of the family will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dr. Dunn's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Medical Clinic, http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give, or Kino Border Initiative (P.O. Box 159, Nogales, AZ, 85628) https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/get-involved/donate/.