MUNN, Harry C. 1923-1993

MUNN, COLEMAN, HARPER, HILL, BAKER, GLASS, RICE, HAWK, VANCAMP

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 3/31/2014 at 10:07:57

The Fairfield Ledger
Monday, February 15, 1993

Retired manufacturer MUNN dies at home

Retired Fairfield manufacturing executive Harry C. MUNN died Sunday at his home following an illness.

MUNN, 70, who had played an active role in the community until recently, had been president and chairman of the board of the Dexter Co. He was a primary force in saving the laundry product plant and foundry in the city and building it into what was Fairfield's largest industrial employer.

After his retirement as president of Dexter in 1989, he continued as chairman of the board, involved in product development and in developing Dexter's foreign markets.

MUNN began work as a tool and die maker with the original Dexter Co. in 1946. He received a science degree from Parsons College and joined Dexter's engineering department in 1953 and was named manager of manufacturing in 1959.

He continued in management after the company was bought by Philco-Ford, and was in the Philco headquarters in Philadelphia before returning to Fairfield in 1968. He was president of the Dexter Co. from 1972 until his retirement, after being instrumental in a drive for private investors to purchase the company from Philco and return the company to its original name.

The success earned him a Chamber of Commerce title as one of Fairfield's outstanding men.

He continued to serve on the Dexter board, was a member of the Fairfield Manufacturers Association, and was serving as trustee and treasurer of the board of the Jefferson County Hospital at the time of his death.

He was a director until this past fall of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, was a past president of Rotary Club and of the Fairfield Community School Board of Directors, and had served on the school board at Libertyville in the late 1940s.

Membership included the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Walton Club, and he served on the committee to help establish Fairfield's first municipal swimming pool.

A certified lay speaker of the Methodist Church, he was a member of the Faith Methodist Church in Libertyville since 1946 and had served in every church office.

He also was one of the original Navy Sea Bees, serving during World War II in the South Pacific.

MUNN was born Jan. 2, 1923, in Indianapolis to Harry W. and Sue COLEMAN MUNN. He married Marjorie HARPER on Jan. 23, 1946, in Indianapolis. She died Dec. 25, 1978. He married Rosalie HILL on Jan. 2, 1982, in Libertyville. The lived at 807 Fairview Drive.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Faith BAKER.

Surviving are his wife, Rosalie; three sons, Harry A. MUNN of Downers Grove, Ill., David MUNN of Dubuque and Chris MUNN of Fairfield; two stepchildren, Jennifer HILL at the University of Northern Iowa, and Alan HILL at home; seven grandchildren; and nieces, Dale GLASS of Libertyville, Barbara RICE of West Des Moines and Faith Ellen HAWK of Greenfield, Ind.; and his stepfather, Marvin VAN CAMP of Indianapolis.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Faith United Methodist Church in Libertyville with the Rev. Tom Clark officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield with military rites.

The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Raymond Funeral Home.

A memorial has been established to a Harry C. Munn scholarship fund.

(Transcribed for genealogy purposes only. I am of no known relation.)

Admin. note: Buried with first wife Marjorie in Lot 5th.061.