Dr. Donald Lee Bunnell, age 92, passed away just before sunrise at the Flora Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Flora, Illinois, on January 6, 2023, with his son and daughter by his bedside.
He was born on March 28, 1930, in Louisville, Illinois, to Robert George Bunnell and Thelma Emogene Smith Bunnell, both of Salem. He was born “in the little house behind the jail” by Dr. Howard Dillman in Louisville, Illinois. His father, Bob Bunnell, was a pharmacist. He owned and operated Bunnell’s Drug Store on the Louisville Square for 64 years.
Dr. Bunnell was united in marriage to Mary Campbell Bunnell of Xenia, Illinois, on August 15, 1955, in Flora, Illinois. Performing the ceremony was Harry Henson of Xenia. To this union were born Mary Emily Putbrese and John Campbell Bunnell.
Preceding him in death were his wife; his parents; one brother, Charles Robert, and one nephew John Bunnell, both of California.
Surviving are children, Emily and John; one brother-in-law, George Emerson Campbell of Ogden, Utah; son-in-law, Mike Putbrese; four nephews, Brad Bunnell, Blake Bunnell, J.D. Bunnell, and Greg Bunnell all of California; six grandchildren, Stephen Putbrese and wife Betsy, Ben Putbrese and wife Jenny, Lauren Carro and husband Moises, Adam Bunnell, Emma Bunnell, and Ellie Bunnell; and three great-grandchildren, Anna Elizabeth Putbrese, Adaline Mae Putbrese, and Rosalee Elizabeth Carro.
Dr. Bunnell graduated from Louisville High School in 1948 before entering the University of Illinois in 1949 where he was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. The degree of Bachelor of Science was bestowed in 1956, his education was interrupted during the years 1951-54, during which time he served with the United States Air Force in the Department of Preventive Medicine at a basic training base in New York.
Living off his G.I. bill and his wife’s teaching salary, Dr. Bunnell returned to the University of Illinois, Chicago campus, in 1956 and entered the college’s School of Medicine. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Kappa Fraternity and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in June of 1960.
Dr. Bunnell served all of his internships, two years as an associate resident, and one year as chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology at City Hospital in St. Louis qualifying him as a specialist in these fields.
In July of 1964, Dr. Bunnell and his wife moved to Flora, Illinois where he began his practice in the field of obstetrics and gynecology at the Flora Clinic on 7th street with Dr. Howard Dillman, Dr. Paul Naney, and Dr. William Kamp. Although he “delivered babies,” Dr. Bunnell also worked in emergency room services, geriatrics, and general surgery during his 36 years of providing medical care. He was a member of the Clay County Medical staff, the Richland Memorial Hospital Staff, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.
He retired from medical practice and set forth on what he considered “another labor of love,” pastor of the Community of Christ Church in Flora. He pastored the local church for 17 years. He was instrumental in funding and coordinating the building of a new church for Community of Christ, which is located on Shadwell Street in Flora.
In 2000, Dr. Bunnell or just “Doc” as most called him, was named Flora’s Citizen of the Year for all his years of service to the community.
He continued his ministry as President-elect of the South Eastern Illinois District of the Community of Christ Church and Chairman of the Brush Creek Campground Board. He organized family reunions and retreats at his beloved Brush Creek Community of Christ Campgrounds south of Xenia, Illinois. He also loved to cook for youth camps at the campground with his wife Mary.
In 2016, he volunteered to come back to work as a physician for area nursing homes and treated many of his former patients. Many times as he entered the room, the patient would yell out “Dr. Bunnell, I thought you were dead,” and he would reply, “I thought you were too!”
Although he retired again from medical practice in March of 2017, he maintained a license to practice, treating mostly family and friends, up to 2021.
When his beloved wife passed in 2020, Dr. Bunnell moved in with his son John in Salem, Illinois. He stayed busy going to high school/college baseball and volleyball games, traveling to Brush Creek Campgrounds, cookouts at his daughter’s home, and attending services at the Salem Grace Nazarene Church. He still enjoyed preaching and would occasionally give a sermon at the Community of Christ Church in Flora. His caregiver and former patient was Sharon Davis of Flora. They hit it off right away and spent the mornings at the house discussing politics, religion, and the good ole days. She became a dear friend to him and his family.
Dr. Bunnell was a founding member of the Clay County Endowment Foundation and received a lifetime achievement award in 2016 for his service. In 2015, he received the prestigious Pinnacle Award, a national award for exceptional customer care in the healthcare field. Almost everyone in Flora has either been treated by him or has relatives or friends that have seen him for treatment.
Dr. Bunnell had a long interest in the educational process in Flora and served as one of the original members of the Flora Academic Foundation, charted in 1984. He helped organize and incorporate the FAF in the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit and wrote its by-laws. Dr.
Bunnell retired from the board in 2000 and received the first Crystal Apple award for outstanding service. During his years as a member, he performed athletic physicals and donated money to the foundation. His church also made apple dumplings synonymous with the Appleknocker Festival, an Academic Foundation activity that became one of the most successful community events in the area.
If he wasn’t singing in the church or community choir, baking cinnamon rolls or apple dumplings at the church, arranging for the Salvation Army’s Holiday bell-ringing campaign, performing in the Flora Depot Play and Variety Shows, or going to his children’s ballgame, he would be at his church.
“Doc” and his wife Mary loved the Flora Community of Christ Church with all their heart. Her smile was contagious and could melt the heart of any visitor. He knew the heart of the church’s mission is found in the way its members lived out the gospel in their own lives and in the community. He stated many times “we are to create a community of joy, hope, love, and peace.” Many outreach programs were organized by him with the help of the hard-working and dedicated members of the church. Some of them include the bi-annual “giveaway day,” the “Come Share” food distribution program, “Meals on Wheels” program, a once-a-month free dinner, the annual turkey dinner in November and Christmas Eve services (in which he always sang “Oh Holy Night.”) His philosophy was “if you feed them, they will come” and if the doors were opened you would find “Doc” and Mary there.
Their house, which they resided in for nearly 50 years, was full of warmth and love. Dr. Bunnell and Mary loved their neighbors and hosted many cookouts on the patio and family meals. Ben and Mary Claire Moses were neighbors and best friends. Every summer for 14 years the Bunnell’s and the Moses’ would pack up the station wagons, load the kids, and vacation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Perhaps his greatest legacy is “his babies.” He delivered 2,981 newborns, including 22 sets of twins. As these babies grew up to be adults, he was later asked to officiate at the marriages of many, and sadly, also buried a few. Oftentimes, when traveling, someone would say, “Dr. Bunnell from Flora? You delivered me!”
He was a pastor, physician, surgeon, and friend to many. He will always be remembered as “Doc.”
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 16, 2023, at the Community of Christ Church in Flora. Interment will follow with full military honors at Orchard Hill Cemetery, Louisville. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, January 15, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Memorial donations are suggested for the Brush Creek Mission Center, Brush Creek Campground, Xenia, Illinois. To share a memory or condolence, visit: www.frankandbright.com
