Bill Dunst, 88 of Lafayette, passed away at 12:20 am on Thursday, August 29, 2018. He was born August 17, 1930, in Chicago and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School and Agazzis Elementary School, both in Chicago. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1948 and attended the University of Illinois for one yearContinue Reading
William F. Dunst
August 17, 1930 - August 29, 2018
Bill Dunst, 88 of Lafayette, passed away at 12:20 am on Thursday, August 29, 2018. He was born August 17, 1930, in Chicago and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School and Agazzis Elementary School, both in Chicago. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1948 and attended the University of Illinois for one year when he left to work as a musician.
Bill played with various bands in the Chicago area; traveling around the Midwest with big bands and worked miscellaneous jobs between musical engagements.
His first job in the insurance business was as an insurance underwriter in Chicago at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in 1953. He joined Crum & Forster Insurance Company in 1954 and was transferred to Freeport, Illinois in 1955.
Bill met and married Maryann Smith in Freeport on October 5, 1957. She passed away December 28, 2010.
He resigned from Crum and Forster and joined Transamerica Insurance Company in Battle Creek, MI, in 1967 as Regional Inland Marine Underwriting Manager. In 1970 Bill left Transamerica Insurance Company and joined Fireman’s Fund in Chicago underwriting all lines of nationwide group accounts. In 1972 he transferred to Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company’s home office in San Francisco, CA, retiring in 1992 as Nationwide Large Properties Director.
Throughout his adult life, he worked as a part-time musician with small and big bands, community theatre, vocalists and vocal groups, most recently as accompanist for Roosevelt Middle School choruses in Monticello, IN. He was also a master woodworker and built much of the furniture in their homes.
He is survived by his children, Laura Dunst (husband Ray Bielefield) of Rohnert Park, CA; John Dunst (wife Vicki) of Meridianville, AL; Deborah Resnick (husband Jeff) of Chalmers, IN; and Samuel Dunst of Lafayette, IN. In addition to his children, Bill is survived by five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Magdalena (Aichner) Dunst and his brother, Robert Dunst.
A private family burial will take place at St. Mary Cemetery in Lafayette, IN.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in Bill’s name to the American Heart Association.