Kenneth O. Dunn

Kenneth O. Dunn, a successful businessman, widely recognized civic leader, and generous benefactor, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 12, 2026 at the age of 96. A lifelong Hoosier, Ken was known for his dedication to community service and for prioritizing his family above all else. Born in 1929 on a farm south of Whiteland, Indiana, Ken was the son of Glen and Norris Dunn. His childhood on the family farm, which was famously featured in a 1940 Life Magazine article, instilled in him a love for family and cherished memories. Ken's strong family bonds continued throughout his life, most notably during his spirited card games of Rook with his brothers, Jim, Dick, and Hugh. He was very close to his sister Deen who passed in December at the age of 103. After graduating from Franklin College in 1951, where he played guard for the basketball team and was a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Ken was drafted into the Korean War. He served in the Army IX Corps Headquarters Transportation section. In 2018 he enjoyed participating in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. with his brother Hugh that recognized their military service. Following his service, Ken spent 21 years at Cosco before becoming president of Indiana Wood Treating and later an insurance agency in Columbus. In 1992 he founded Dunn and Associates, a successful third-party administrator for health insurance. Ken was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1957. He taught Sunday School for a dozen years, served as an usher for decades, and served on numerous administrative committees. He rarely missed a Sunday. Even with his demanding career, Ken dedicated countless hours to community service. Among his many contributions, he was fund chair of the Bartholomew County Mental Health Association, director of the Opportunity Center, president of the Columbus Foundation for Youth, and a Trustee for Franklin College. Ken served a total of 34 years on the Columbus and Bartholomew County park boards. In 1999 his years of dedicated community service were recognized with the "Sagamore of the Wabash" award, the highest honor given by the governor. In 2001 his legacy was further cemented when the "Kenneth O. Dunn Stadium" was named in his honor. A man of simple tastes, Ken lived modestly—famously washing and reusing disposable cups—yet was incredibly generous to his family, his church, Franklin College, and other charitable organizations. Ken stayed active his entire life, playing golf, softball, racquetball, and, into his nineties, tennis. A regular at the Mill Race Center Fitness Room, he embodied an enduring love of sports. Ken will be remembered by his family as "the most generous cheapskate that ever lived," a testament to his values. There was nothing he loved more than gathering with his loved ones, including hosting countless picnics and dinners for his Indiana family and traveling east for family reunions at the beach or Cacapon State Park in West Virginia. Ken is survived by his daughter Cathy; son Jeff and daughter-in-law Kathy; grandchildren Sarah, Lauren, Steven, and Allison; and great-grandchildren Nelly, Jackson, Jada, Norris, Noah, and Lily. He also leaves behind his cousins Ron and Roger, along with over sixty nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. Ken lived a truly remarkable life and his family and friends will miss him dearly. A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday January 15, 2026 at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with Pastor Dennis Aud officiating. Visitation will be held starting at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 618 8th Street, Columbus, IN 47201 or Franklin College (https://franklincollege.edu/giving/give-now/). You are invited to view his video tribute and share special memories with the Dunn family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com