If you have visited Dunn’s Attic during a major holiday, you have seen Grandpa Al doing what he loved to do, dressing up for the occasion and handing out candy to the children. The Dunn family lost Al after he carried out his Christmas duties at the store, and we are still coming to terms with the void Al leaves.
Al grew up in Belgium, Wisconsin; His Mom was Rose, and Dad Alois. He went to Port Washington High School and met Anabel (Schwenker), and in 1959, Al graduated from Marquette University, where he was a Delta Sigma Phi fraternity member.
Al and Anabel were married in 1959 and moved to Ironwood, Michigan, where Al worked for Standard Oil Corporation and ran a trap line. A career change to Chrysler Marine took him to South Dakota, Minnesota, Florida, and back to Michigan.
In the early 1980’s Al returned to his trapping roots and started A&D Animal Control – humanely relocating critters all over Oakland County, Michigan. The seasonality of his business allowed Al and Bel to split their time between Lake Orion and Palm Coast, eventually moving to Florida full-time in 2019.
Al loved his wife and family, but he also loved his neighborhood friends, his Dollar Bay gang, his golfing buddies, and all of his friends who knew him by his mini tugboat-Pilot 49.
When describing Al, the phrases used are:
A Family Man
Al truly loved all as family, and in addition to his immediate family, Al maintained close ties to extended family and friends he loved and respected.
A Patriot
Uncle Sam was the first costume in Al’s collection. The most patriotic guy any of us ever knew. His patriotism got others to join in via sing-alongs, including hundreds of golfers on various holidays, river run participants at the start line, and hundreds of boats reveling on the 4th of July.
A Catholic
Al was devout, steady, loyal, kind, and respectful, and he embodied the Catholic faith, ushering for Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, among other volunteer positions.
A Solid Citizen
Al was determined to make a difference. Whether it was raising funds and constructing a 52’ Hiawatha statue in Northern Michigan in 1964 (still in perfect condition today) or giving his all to motivate the city council of Palm Coast to improve the safety of all citizens by adding sidewalks to older parts of town where the original planners came up short. Live on, Safety on Cimmaron!
A Good Man
Al was determined to brighten the day of all he met. His costume collection was extensive to cover all major holidays and most minor ones, just for an excuse to make some smiles! Al sent hundreds of written notes of gratitude, congratulations, and encouragement to friends and family throughout the US each year.
If you knew Al, you know all of these descriptions listed above are true, and he brightened the room when he entered with his smile and good attitude. Dunn’s Attic has a bench out front of the store to honor Grandpa Al and his collection of holiday costumes. It makes us smile when we see it, and we hope it does the same for you.
We will miss Al but will remember him every day. Rest in Peace, Grandpa.
