Darreld Elmer Dunn

Darreld Elmer Dunn, 72, died Aug. 7, 2012, at Providence Extended Care in Anchorage from complications of cancer.

A service and potluck are at 2 p.m., Aug. 18 at the Palmer Elks Lodge. Darreld’s ashes will be scattered in North Idaho.

Darreld was born Nov. 23, 1940, in Corona, Calif., to Marcus Dunn and Lilly Johnson. After Darreld received his high school diploma he joined the U.S. Army; he was stationed in Anchorage from 1959-64. Darreld lived in Athol, Idaho before moving to Alaska in 2007. Darreld retired from Kaiser Aluminum in Trentwood, Wash. He enjoyed restoring old cars, hunting and fishing.

“Darreld was a kind, gentle, caring soul who wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he thought was right,” his family wrote. “In 1962, Darreld started developing his love of racing at Deer Park, Wash. He won many trophies and set many track records in his 1962 Chevy Impala SS. He competed in the National Hot Rod Association division six races, later becoming a member of the Dukes Auto Car Club, ‘The First Finest and Fastest.’

“His passion for the sport of racing was off and running. Dad became known as the pit boss when he and his son, Chris, started drag racing in Spokane, Wash. He later became pit boss for Polaris snowmobiles, grass and asphalt drags for Chris and Debra Ayers. In 2000, his granddaughter Chelsea, at the age of 3, joined the Dunn To Perfection Team. They traveled around the Inland Northwest, including Yellowstone and Montana. They competed in all the snow and grass drags they could find. After taking a couple of years off, he recently went back and pitted for son-in-law Dan Saputski’s ice racing team, Dunn To Perfection in Big Lake. When he wasn’t pitting he loved to hunt, fish, watch the speed channel and his favorite baseball team, the Seattle Mariners. His wisdom of racing and mechanical knowledge will be greatly missed. We love you, Dad. Drive fast up there!”

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Bonnie Dunn of Wasilla; son and his significant other, Chris Dunn and Debra Ayers of Athol, Idaho; daughter and son-in-law, Allison Dunn and Dan Saputski of Wasilla; granddaughter, Chelsea Saputski of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Ted Adams of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; granddaughter, Nicole Dunbar of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; grandsons, Joseph Schmitz and Keith Schmitz of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; great-grandchildren, Mary-Jane Dunbar, Marcus Dunbar and David Schmitz; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death was his mother, Lilly Johnson; father, Marcus Dunn; stepfather, Russell Johnson; brothers, Gary, Keith and Phillip Dunn; and sister, Harriet Sullivan.

Memorial donations can be made to: American Diabetes Association, 801 W. Fireweed Lane Suite 103, Anchorage, AK 99503, or online at hhtp://m.diabetes.org.

Arrangements were by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory. An online guestbook and obituary may be visited at alaskanfuneral.com.