Rowena Dunn

Rowena Elizabeth Kunzie Dunn passed away peacefully on September 23, 2026, in Levelland, Texas. She was born February 9, 1932 in the community of Galatea, Colorado, to Theodore and Verna (Beeler) Kunzie. She was the second of eight children. The family moved to a small farm near Kit Carson when Rowena was five years old. The family farmed wheat and raised chickens and cattle. She attended school in Kit Carson and was raised in the Lutheran Church. She made the decision to follow the Lord when she was sixteen. She graduated from high school in 1949.

Rowena often told stories about growing up in Colorado and the bitter winters she experienced as a girl. She remembered the cold and snow, especially having to go outside to milk the cows early in the morning before school. She never forgot just how cold those winters were. She loved telling stories about growing up with her sisters, including the times they would wring the neck of a chicken so they could prepare a snack after school. She told these stories with her dry sense of humor, and they always brought laughter to her family.

In September 1949, Rowena met Douglas Dunn, and they were married in December of that year. They shared 66 years of marriage until Douglas passed away in 2016. They made their home in Bledsoe, Texas, where they spent the majority of their married life. In 1952, they moved to Arkansas, where they lived for five years before returning to Bledsoe.

Rowena often told funny stories about their years in Arkansas. She remembered the house being so cold that the water in a bucket froze inside the house. She said it was a wonder the baby didn’t freeze too. Stories like this showed Rowena’s ability to find humor even when times were hard.

Rowena and Douglas were blessed with four children: Douglas Stevan, Walter Marcus, Roxie Elizabeth, and Stacey Burton. They farmed for many years in Bledsoe and worked hard to build a life and a legacy for their family.

Rowena was baptized and became a member of Bledsoe Baptist Church in 1962 where she used her gift of hospitality in the church kitchen.

Rowena had a dry sense of humor that often made her family laugh. She had many funny sayings and always seemed to have a story to tell. Her sense of humor stayed with her throughout her life. Even near the end, she could still make her family laugh. Just last Sunday, she said she was “madder than a hornet,” which was typical of Rowena and brought a smile to those around her.

Rowena and Douglas loved to travel and made many memories with friends and family. They went camping often and traveled many miles together. They took a trip to Jamaica in the 1970s, a train trip to Mexico, and, in the 1990s, drove to Alaska with a group of friends and Rowena reported that she encountered the largest mosquitoes that she had ever seen.

For several years, they also had a second home in San Benito, Texas, where they spent their winters. They made wonderful friends there and truly loved their time in the Valley. She introduced her friends from up north to cream gravy, which was then requested every weekend for the community breakfast. Those years became an important and happy part of their life together.

Rowena was a wonderful cook and was known for her chicken n dumplings and her hot rolls. She loved serving Sunday dinner to her family and bringing everyone together around the table. She was also very creative and enjoyed making beautiful things. She made wonderful quilts and afghans and painted beautiful pictures.

She also enjoyed playing cards and played for many years with her friends in Bledsoe. Whether she was cooking for her family, making a quilt or afghan, painting, playing cards, or telling one of her many stories, Rowena always found ways to make life interesting and enjoyable.

Rowena loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply. She continually prayed for each of them and was always interested in what was happening in their lives. One of her favorite things was receiving new pictures of the family on her digital picture frame. She loved seeing the faces of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she especially cherished all of the babies. She was very grateful for the loving family she had and considered them one of the greatest blessings of her life.

In 2013, Rowena and Douglas moved to Levelland and joined College Avenue Baptist Church. They spent their later years there, surrounded by family and friends.

Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas, in 2016; her infant children, Marcus and Roxie; her parents, Theodore and Verna (Beeler) Kunzie; her sisters, Pauline, Opal, Eileen, and Sue; and her brothers, Ted and Charles.

She is survived by her sons, Steve and his wife, Barbara, of Levelland, Stacey and his wife, Michelle, of Levelland; her sister, Sharon Schrayer and husband Leeroy, of Omaha, Nebraska; Sisters-in-law Carla Kunzie of South Carolina and Marilyn Kunzie of Colorado; grandchildren, Charles Dunn and wife Tammy of Crosbyton, Texas, Shiela Christopher of Bridgeport, Texas, Kelley Finley and Husband Paul of Seymour, Texas, Joel Dunn and wife Stephanie of Lubbock, Texas, Chase Dunn and wife Sarah of Lubbock, Texas, Ron Manthey of Levelland, Pam Clyncke and husband Cory of Denver, Colorado, Bobbie Kuhl of Rapid City, South Dakota and Billie Cevera and husband Edgar of Buda, Texas; and twenty-nine great-grandchildren. Rowena is also survived by many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

The family would like to thank the hospice staff of Vital Caring and the staff at Hickory Terrace of Levelland for the loving care they provided to Rowena during her final months.

Rowena will be remembered for her faith, her love of family, her cooking, her creativity, her stories, and her wonderful sense of humor. She leaves behind a family who will continue to tell her stories, use her sayings, share her recipes, cherish the things she made, and remember the many ways she showed them that she loved them.

She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, September 28, 2026 at Morton Memorial Cemetery at 10am. A memorial service will follow at College Avenue Baptist Church at 1pm.

Services with integrity, honor and pride are under the direction of Krestridge Funeral Home. (806) 897-1111