Ward Dunmire

Ward Walter Dunmire, one of five children of Marvel Rose (Saar) Kampe Dunmire and Durward Athel Dunmire, was born on March 8, 1949 in Coburg, Iowa. He grew up on his parents' farm near Essex, Iowa where he attended school. Ward graduated from Essex High School in 1967 and attended Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, Iowa for one year. He held various jobs in the area before starting work in Shenandoah for Thermogas in 1972.

Ward and Mary Jo Bengtson of Essex were married and they were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Robin Laurel. In 1976, the family moved to live in Malvern, Iowa, where Ward was transferred to manage the Thermogas Plant.

Ward and Susan Kay (Omer) Scott were married on September 16, 1984 in Malvern. Ward's family grew to include Susan's children, Jill, Matthew and Jennifer.

Ward enjoyed fishing and hunting pheasants. He loved visiting and telling a good story with friends and customers. Ward loved his family and enjoyed teaching them life skills and lessons.

Ward retired in 2010, after working for 39 years, delivering propane gas and making sales for Thermogas, Cenex, and the Alliance Gas Company. He and Susan had been married 26 years when Ward died at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 61 years, 8 months, and 9 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother John Kampe; and sister Kathryn Spencer.

Ward is survived by his wife Susan Dunmire of Malvern; children, Robin Long and husband Scott of Florence, AL, Jill Scott and wife Janae and their daughters, Ella and Haley of Ankeny, IA, Matthew Scott of Malvern, Jennifer Skillman and husband David and their daughter Sophia of Lenexa, KS; sisters, Margaret Kier and husband Richard of Grand Island, NE, and Mary Jardon and husband Joe of Red Oak, IA; sister-in-law Ana Kampe of Lake Lure, NC; other relatives and a host of friends.

A memorial fund has been established.