Montrew Goetz Dunham of Downers Grove, 97, passed away peacefully January 8, 2017 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, surrounded by family, after a brief illness. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 19, 1919 and lived in Downers Grove for the last 60 years. She was a graduate of Butler University (1941) and received a Master’s Degree from Northwestern University in 1966. She was a school guidance counselor at DG North and later at DG South High Schools. She authored numerous books including the histories; Downers Grove 1832-1982 and Downers Grove Revisited in 2003. She wrote several Childhood of Famous American series biographies including Neil Armstrong and Ronald Reagan among others. She has also written several novels.
She was Director Emeritus of the Downers Grove Historical Society, longtime volunteer at Morton Arboretum, LOVE, AAUW, Good Sam Auxiliary, and participated in many other volunteer groups and civic committees for the Village of Downers Grove over the years.
She was married to the late Robert E. Dunham for 48 years.She was preceded in death by her brother Byron Goetz of Downers Grove. She is survived by her children: Chuck (Barb) Dunham, Diane (Late Nathan) Massey, Denise (Mark) Schiele and Jim (Nancy) Dunham; grandchildren, Mackenzie (Harriss) D’Antignac, Sara and Lauren Massey, Griffin (Heather) and Graham Schiele, Davis and Grace Dunham; great grandchildren Cecilia, Henry and Antoinette D’Antignac; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment was a private ceremony at Clarendon Hills Cemetery on January 11, 2017.
A memorial service is planned for February 19, 2017 at 2 PM at the First Congregational Church of Downers Grove, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, DG Historical Society, or the charity of your choice.
