Lynette Unger

1951 - 2026

Lynette Susan (Beinke) Unger, 74, formerly of Rock Island, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Worthington, Ohio, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. A celebration of her life will be held in Rock Island at a later date.

"The Vulture" hatched out on November 30, 1951, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Glenn and Louise Beinke. From that moment on she lived life to the fullest.

Lynette grew up in Rock Island, graduating from Rock Island High School (RIHS) in 1969 near the top of her class. She earned a bachelor's degree from Augustana College, and an MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She was a professor of marketing at Miami (Ohio) University for over two decades, becoming an Associate Dean before retiring in 2007. Throughout her adulthood she was a world traveler, visiting all 50 states and over 90 countries.

While she was growing up, whatever she led, delightful craziness followed. For example, many friends and relatives faithfully joined her tongue-in-cheek "Vultures Forever" campaign to replace the bald eagle with the vulture as the national bird.

Throughout her life, Lynette enjoyed a wide variety of interests and abilities. She loved literature, film, music, plays, and nurturing her cats. Gracefulness, agility, raw talent, and hard work brought her success in athletics. In high school she excelled in competitive and synchronized swimming and varsity tennis doubles. As an adult she continued competing, succeeding in Masters swimming, running races, and triathlons in sports-rich Ohio.

The oldest of three daughters, she was a superb leader. She encouraged her sisters to join her in the above activities and many others.

Among those cherishing her memories are her loving partner of 18 years, Michael "Mouse" Webb, Worthington; lifelong friend, Patty "Ogre" Reese Frerichs (RIHS '69), Lombard, Ill.; daughter, Julia (Nathan) Massey, Powell, Ohio; sons, Brad (Kathryn) Unger, Columbus, Ohio, and Scott (Claire) Unger, Salem, Ore.; grandsons, Thomas and James Schneider, John Unger, and Rowan Massey; sister, Luanne Beinke (fiancé, John Crist), Rock Island; niece, Megan (Kevin) Simcox, Los Angeles, Calif.; nephew, Corey (Andrea) Marshall, Pooler, Ga.; grand-nieces, Amelia Marshall and Hallie Simcox; and brother-in-law, Mack (Catherine) Marshall, Charlottesville, Va.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Janna Marshall.

Online condolences can be expressed on http://www.legacy.com. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or any local YMCA.