James Kenneth Dunn, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)
February 21, 1935 – May 31, 2025

James Kenneth Dunn (90), of Lebanon, IL, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025, at Trenton Village Retirement Center. He was a good Christian who loved flying helicopters, fishing, a good steak, oysters or ribs, and was deeply devoted to his family, especially his wife Kay.

Jim was born on February 21, 1935, in Hampton, AR, the oldest of Kenneth and Mable Dunn’s three children.

He graduated from El Dorado High School and earned a degree in Business from Louisiana Tech University. He then joined the United States Air Force in 1958. After completing pilot training, he attended Air Force Helicopter School at Stead AFB in Nevada. Upon graduating top of his class, he was assigned to local base rescue at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He was introduced to Kay Werner, who taught at the elementary school on Ramstein by a good friend. They were married in Basel, Switzerland in 1962. From there, Jim was assigned to Laredo AFB in Texas, University of Southwest Louisiana in Lafayette, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand, Robins AFB in Georgia, Eglin AFB and Patrick AFB in Florida, and Osan AFB in Korea. In 1977, the Dunn family moved to Lebanon when Jim was assigned to Scott Air Force Base. He and Kay had many adventures and made lifelong cherished friends during each assignment. He retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force in 1979 after a distinguished and decorated career during which he received numerous awards and citations, including the Silver Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and saving many lives during combat in Vietnam.

Jim then worked with VCV Engineering, Ag-Pro Veterinarian Services and performed rural land appraisals. He routinely gave his time, serving with the Rotary Club and several community and church organizations. After retiring, Jim and Kay traveled around the world and especially enjoyed visits with their family and circle of good friends. Jim always loved farming and maintained a loblolly pine tree farm in southern Arkansas on property that has been in the Dunn family for generations. He continued to fly and co-owned a Piper Archer II for several years. Jim and Kay also loved hosting family and friends at a lake house they owned in Eddyville, KY. He then provided constant care and support for Kay after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008.

Jim was preceded in death by Kay, his parents and a brother, Charles Dunn. He is survived by three sons, Josh and Dianne of Tega Cay, SC, Kent and Kristy of Southlake, TX, and Mike and Theresa of Indianapolis, IN; seven grandchildren, Noah, Xandi, Griffin, Audrey, Mary Michael, Meilan and Anna; a sister, Martha Dunn of Magnolia, AR; and five brothers and sisters-in-law, including Terry Dunn of Durham, NC, Will and Sue Jensen of Vacaville, CA, and Max and Julie Werner of Vacaville, CA.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Trenton Village and to Hospice of Southern Illinois, for their care and support the past few months. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. http://act.alz.org/goto/jim_dunn

The family will receive visitors on Saturday, June 14, from 9-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. All services will be held at the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Lebanon, IL.

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As a Major, Jim served a tour in the Vietnam War as a CH-3E helicopter pilot with the 21^st Special Operations Squadron in the 1969-1970 timeframe.