Robert John “Bob” Dunham, 79

Robert John “Bob” Dunham, 79, died on Jan. 3, 2024, after a 5-year battle with Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease. He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on December 5, 1944, to Jack and Irene (Teff) Dunham.

Bob graduated from LaCrosse Aquinas High School in 1962 where he was All-State in football and basketball and named to the State baseball All-Tournament team as a senior. He was inducted into their Hall of fame in 2006. He attended the University of Montana. He served in the Army for 2 years as a Sargent in the 101st Airborne division including 13 months in the Vietnam War. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and played professional baseball for their organization for 4 years. One year under manager Sparky Anderson and another Don Zimmer as a coach. After his baseball career ended, he moved to Austin, MN and was employed by Hormel Foods and he met Cynthia “Cindy” (Christopherson) Dunham. They were married on April 7th, 1973, at Queen of Angels Church in Austin MN. In 1987 they moved to Rochester with their family where he worked in telecommunications for the next 30 years. Cindy was the love of his life. Together, they celebrated 50 years of marriage in April of 2023.

Bob loved watching baseball, basketball, football, and golf, all the sports he loved playing. He was a Green Bay Packer fan and knew almost every baseball stat out there including his own. He loved telling stories about growing up on the river, different games he played in, or things going on in the news. He was a strong advocate for Veterans and helped organize and start the Rochester chapter of Tee It Up for the Troops. But, most important to him was his family. Watching his kids and grandkids being competitive. If you ask anyone his family came first and he was not afraid to tell you that either.

He is survived by his wife Cindy, their 3 children Robert John (Rob) Dunham Jr. of Rochester MN, Douglas Daniel (Doug) Dunham of Pine Island MN, and Karissa Katherine Dunham (Mark Hargrove) of Blaine MN. His 5 Grandchildren Peyton and Parker Dunham, Kyra, Kadyn, and Baron Loehr. His brothers, Paul (Linda) Dunham of Onalaska, and Joe (Cecilia) Dunham of La Crosse, sisters Jacqueline Tischer of North Canton, OH, Helen Hall of La Crosse, Carole (Ken) Borsheim of La Crosse, and Susan (Bob) Kjos of La Crosse. He is also survived by brother and sister-in-law’s Candy Dunham of Onalaska Wi, Ron Nelson of Rochester MN, Randal (Nancy) Christopherson of Austin, and Shirley Hemingway of Rochester MN and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jerry, Jim and Dan Dunham, sisters-in-law Marilyn, Betty Dunham, Judy Nelson, brother-in-law John Tischer, Herbert (Bud) Hall, Jerry Swank, and Dick Hemingway, mother and father-in-law, Alvin “Cy” (Alpha) Christopherson.

Visitation will be held at 10:00am on Friday January 26th, 2024 at Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester followed by the Memorial Mass at 11:00am. A light lunch will follow. Burial will be at MN State Veterans Cemetery, Preston, MN.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com