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Olive “Bunch” Schuneman
“Bunch” was graduated as valedictorian of the Spencer High School in 1925. She matriculated to Frances Shimer College, Mt. Carrol, IL, where she studied primary education, completing work for the Associate of Arts Degree in 1927 – again the valedictorian of her class. She taught grade school in Pecatonica, IL and Spencer, IA, before moving to Spirit Lake, IA in 1932 when she married Art Schuneman, foreman of the Spirit Lake Beacon. They moved to Milford in 1940 when they purchased The Milford Mail, working together as editor and publisher of the newspapers until 1958. They founded The Okobojian in 1945, and later acquired the Terril Record and Arnolds Park News which they incorporated into The Milford Mail. The papers were sold to W.E. Beck in 1958. “Bunch” served multiple terms as a member of the Milford Library board and of the Milford (now Okoboji) Consolidated School Board. She was also elected chairperson of that board. She was a member of the Union Memorial Church and active in its Guild activities. She was also a member and past officer of the Lakes Chapter of the DAR. During World War II she served as a ration officer in the Milford area to support the War effort. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jessie C. Smith, 1958, and her father, Frank Smith, in 1924. Her husband, Raymond Arthur Schuneman, died in 1987. Survivors include one son, Raymond Smith Schuneman, and his wife, Patricia Ward Schuneman of Minneapolis, as well as two grandsons, Thomas A. Schuneman (Mamye), Boston, and William Ward Schuneman (Michelle), Minneapolis Memorials are preferred to the Dickinson County Historical Society. IN MEMORY SERVICES CLERGY MUSIC PALLBEARERS INTERMENT |
Olive
Rebecca Schuneman was born January 30, 1907, to Frank and
Jessie C. Smith in Spencer, Iowa, at their home. When the nurse who
had delivered the baby girl refused to give her a first bath, her
father exclaimed, “Just give me that little bunch and I’ll
take care of her.” The name “Bunch” would be hers
for life!