John Brune Dunmore
May 28, 1938 -- June 30, 1957
John Brune Dunmore was born on May 28, 1938 in Sycamore, son of Brune and Aileen Dunmore. He had one sister, Kathleen, who was a year older. John died on June 30, 1957 as a result of a water skiing accident on the Fox River near St. Charles. He had just turned 19 years of age.
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Remembering my brother, John Brune
by Kathleen Dunmore Johnston
John was born in Sycamore, Il on May 28th, 1938. He was the second child of Brune and Aileen Dunmore. When John and I were young, we had four grandparents, many aunts and uncles, the majority of whom all lived in Sycamore. Family and family functions were a big part of our early years as we shared birthdays and holidays with relatives.
John died on Sunday evening June 30th, 1957 after a water skiing accident on the previous Saturday afternoon. He had been out boating and skiing with the Florent boys after working all week for my Dad. I was working at Henderson’s Department Store when I remember receiving a phone call to come home. Mom, Dad and I then drove to the St. Charles Hospital where John was taken and to find out what had happened. John had been placed in an iron lung to assist his breathing but died on Sunday evening. When we finally returned home, I remember many family members, friends and many of John’s friends coming to the house after receiving word of his passing. John had just finished his first year at Carroll College in Waukesha, WI where he was a Tau Kappa Epsilon(TKE) pledge
John loved Door County, Wisconsin where our Grandfather Dunmore had built a cottage on Green Bay in the late 1930’s. This was a favorite family vacation place where we fished, went swimming, worked in the woods moving rocks and brush, clearing an area for an addition to the cottage. We also cut down many dead trees which were then cut for fire wood in our wood burning stove. John and I used to carry drinking water from the nearby light house and also from a spring in the local area. This cottage is now used by the fifth generation of Dunmores.
John played drums in the school band and I remember he had a contest with Ronnie Bowman, another drummer, where he broke a drum head for which my parents were asked to pay the damages. I also remember we had to stay home on Memorial Day Weekend for John to march in the band to get credit for the year.
John was also an outstanding athlete and was a member of the undefeated football team in his senior year. When I got my driver’s license, I used to pick John and his friends up from football practice. I never will forget the night he had broken his nose and it was smeared all over his face. He had re-occurring problems with headaches from this accident in college.
John and my Dad enjoyed working on projects together. I recall them restoring an old canoe using a new product called “fiberglass”. We used this canoe at the cottage in Wisconsin and John, Sue Safford, Don and myself canoed across Sawyer Harbor(and Don didn’t know I couldn’t swim!!) Dad had given John an old Jeep for graduation and they had fun fixing it up, painting it white, and John gave many rides to his younger cousins. During high school, John also had a speed boat and we spent many Sundays on Lake Delavan, usually with Dave Drenckpohl and his family.
These are some of my memories of John’s life. John’s life was cut short and he has been sorely missed by all of his family.
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Remembering My Friend, John Dunmore
By Gene Behler
John Dunmore’s death was tragic. Of course, you could say that the death of any young person is tragic. However, John’s death was especially tragic. His future was so very bright. He had just successfully finished his first year at Carroll College in Wisconsin and looked forward to returning in the fall. He was in love with a great young lady and looked down the road at the possibility of running the very successful family business after college.
No one really knows exactly what happened that fateful day. John and John Florent were water skiing behind a boat driven by the late Martin “Jockie” Florent. Suddenly, John disappeared into the river. The Florents found him partially submerged in the water. His neck was broken and he was unconscious. He was rushed him to Delnor Hospital in St. Charles. He died the following day.
The night John died is indelibly etched in my memory. On learning of his death, I hurried to the Dunmore’s house on Turner Place. It was a warm evening. Mrs. Dunmore was sitting in a chair in the front yard surrounded by friends and family. Everyone seemed to be almost in shock. People were talking in hushed tones and you could hear soft sobbing. The only light came from the street or maybe a yard or porch light. As I approached Mrs. Dunmore, she looked up at me and smiled. I put my arms around her but it was almost as if Mrs. Dunmore and her husband, Brune, were consoling and comforting me.
Brune and Aileen Dunmore were some of the most gracious people I have ever known. How they made it through those dark days and kept their sanity is beyond my understanding. They both have passed away now.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was packed with mourners for the funeral. While I felt honored to be a pallbearer, at the same time it was a painful duty. I am sure the other pallbearers shared that feeling. While funerals are supposed to offer closure, I did not feel closure. For a long time afterwards, many of us struggled with the idea that John Dunmore was no longer with us.
John and I had been close friends throughout high school. We both were involved with the Student Council and other student activities and we both played on the basketball team. We often double dated. John usually drove his parent’s black Olds with the sun visor. John’s friends were always welcome at the Dunmore house. I felt almost as comfortable there as I did at my own house.
In my mind’s eye, I can still see John. This was, of course, in the days before anyone talked of body fat and the word “buff” was not yet in vogue. Tall, slim, good looking with a shock of dark hair, there was not an ounce of fat on his hard body. John clearly was buff. He was a talented athlete who lettered all four years of high school in football and basketball. He excelled in football and was known as a hard-nosed player who often delivered bone-crushing blows to opponent’s ball carriers.
People looked up to John Dunmore and for good reason. Yes, he was a physically imposing person. But his real strength was in his heart and mind…in his intelligence and spirit. He had the heart and courage of a lion. At the same time, he was a compassionate man concerned with the well-being of others.
John did not hesitate to stand up and be counted even if he held an unpopular view. During our junior year, school authorities threatened to expel John for the heinous crime of growing side burns. In those days, facial hair was not permitted. Apparently, it was considered a rebellious act. This happened in the days before the Beatles and before long hair and sideburns came to prominence. John was not being rebellious--he just wanted to wear sideburns. After careful consideration of the consequences, he chose to cut the sideburns. He was a stand-up guy but he also knew a no-win situation when he saw it.
Had work ethic been a term used in the 1950s, John would have been its poster boy. When he had a job to do, he let nothing get in his way until that task was accomplished and accomplished well. No one was more dependable or determined than John Dunmore. You could always count on John.
John dated the same young woman through much of high school and after graduation. While he never spoke of their plans for the future, when you saw them together there was little question in your mind. One of my favorite high school pictures is Image #19 in the Class Website Activities photo album. If you go to that image, you will see John, Dave Drenckpohl, Jack Lindstrom and me with our dates at the Sadie Hawkins Dance. I believe it was our sophomore year. Those were happy, carefree days. As usual, John is flashing that wonderful boyish grin he so often shared with others. How could anyone forget that grin?
He was blessed with a loving family. His parents and sister were among the nicest folks around. John’s friends were always welcome at his house and treated like adults.
John was a good and loyal friend. His life held such great promise. He was destined for success as a husband, as a father, as a businessman, and as a community leader. How sad that he did not have a chance to live up to his potential.
John is buried in Mayfield Cemetery north of Sycamore.
John Dunmore was my friend. For that, I will be forever grateful.
