Dean L. Bunnell

April 17, 1951 - August 24, 2020

COLUMBIA – Dean L. Bunnell, 69, died after a sudden illness on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nev. Dean was born in West Stewartstown on April, 17, 1951, the son of Dean E. and Barbara (Noyes) Bunnell. He attended Canaan schools and was a graduate of Canaan Memorial High School in 1969. Growing up, he learned mechanics from his dad who operated Bunnell’s Sales & Service, specializing in the sales and repair of Bombadier snowmobiles and Suzuki motorcycles, and small engines. He learned many other skills from his dad, including well-drilling, fishing and hunting. As a teenager, Dean enjoyed racing snowmobiles and riding motorbikes. He especially enjoyed fishing in the streams of Vermont and trips to hunting camp with his dad. His dad also taught him to play chess. Dean was a prankster, as his sister Bobie and his step-mother Gloria can attest to. As a child, he developed a love of flying from his grandpa Nelson Bunnell who owned a small airplane and airfield. He spent many hours flying with neighbor, Sonny Dudley. He later earned his aircraft crewman’s badge (“wings”) in the U.S. Army. At one time Dean also owned a powered parachute. He had a lifelong love of flying and took his family to many Blue Angels and Thunderbirds air shows. Dean enlisted in the Army in 1970 and spent a year in Vietnam. His distinguished career earned him many awards and medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Aircraft Crewman Badge, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, Two Overseas Bars, Marksman (Rifle M-16A1), the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1977. Dean then spent several years working at various jobs including construction, lumberjacking, tree-trimming and harvesting at the Marchessault Christmas Tree Farm. He also worked on nuclear submarines in Groton, CT for a time. For many seasons he worked at The Balsams Grand Resort in the maintenance department for Raoul Jolin, and for Ray Gorman as a bellman/valet. He began work at the USPS in Colebrook as a rural carrier in 1985. He retired in 2017 with an exemplary safety record. Dean traveled many miles on the back roads and mountains during snowstorms and through many mud seasons. He lived up to the motto “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” He enjoyed raising his children and often played soccer and football with them on the front lawn. He especially loved playing paintball in the woods, both with and against his children. He also enjoyed playing pitch and cribbage with family members, especially on holiday get-togethers. He had a lifelong love of animals and grew up raising beagles and hunting rabbits with his family. Dean loved to hike with his dog, Buddy, and later with his dog, Brandi, making many trips up Mount Monadnock together. He enjoyed hiking and camping out overnight in the woods with a friend or family member, often cooking fresh fish from the streams. Dean was a faithful attendee for many years at the Independent Baptist Church in Stewartstown and later the Community Baptist Church in Colebrook. He thoroughly enjoyed worshipping with his family at his side. After retirement Dean worked part-time at the O’Reilly auto parts store. In retirement he enjoyed working with his portable saw-mill, snowmobiling, UTVing and camping. Dean is survived by his wife Janet (Noyes) Bunnell of Columbia, NH; his step-mother, Gloria Bunnell of Canaan, VT; his daughter Deanna Bunnell Roy and husband Sebastian of Stanstead, QC; his son Richard Bunnell of Colebrook, NH; his daughter Katie Bunnell of Rochester, NH; his son Jonathan Bunnell of Fort Collins, CO; his step-son Jody Roy of Colebrook, NH; his step-daughter Gina Roy of Ashland, NH; his grand-children Josef, Sean and Shael Eastman of Stanstead, QC; his sister Roberta Bunnell of Canaan, VT; his brother-in-law Brandon Noyes and wife Pam of Old Orchard Beach, ME; his nieces Airole Warden and Kara Cummings; many step-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Dean was pre-deceased by his father Dean E. Bunnell, and his mother Barbara Arsenault and her husband Roland, and an infant sister. Calling hours will be on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins &Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook with COVID-19 small group and social distancing guidelines being observed. A public graveside committal service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, in the Morrison Cemetery on Rt. 102 in South Canaan, VT. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Dean may be made to the Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, c/o R. Mulliken, 53 Spring St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.