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A wonderful life: Downtown window washer remembered by friends

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Retired window washer Bill Dunn washed business windows on Milwaukee St. for 55 years.

JANESVILLE — Most of us will pass from this earth without much fanfare or recognition.

But William F. Dunn made such a mark that his friends and former customers want to erect a plaque in his honor in downtown Janesville.

Dunn wasn’t a bank president or CEO. He wasn’t a politician. He wasn’t a wealthy philanthropist.

No, William “Bill” Dunn was a window washer. For 55 years, Dunn pulled his red wagon full of supplies throughout downtown, cleaning windows, making friends and spreading cheerfulness.

On Wednesday, Dunn died at Mercy Hospital, three years after retiring from job. He was 83 years old.

“He was joyful and kind and he loved what he did,” said Jackie Wood, a downtown business owner. “Everybody knew him. Bill always wanted to take time to talk and visit with them.”

Dunn’s ebullient personality and nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic was inspiring, especially given his physical challenges.

“For everything he had going against him, he really made the most of his life,” said Barbara Braasch, who met Dunn when she was working at Title Team.

Braasch later had Dunn’s power of attorney.

“He had polio when he was younger, and had hearing loss,” Braasch said. “The doctors think he might have had some form of cerebral palsy, too.”

Dunn’s home life wasn’t a cakewalk, either.

He was born in New York City in June 29, 1924 to William F. and Emma Odette (Barabeus) Dunn. His father died when he was still very young, and his mother remarried. After the death of her second husband, she married Harry Hagar.

His mother kept him in public schools at a time when “special education” classes weren’t offered.

He moved to California with his mother and stepfather when she became ill. Later, after returning to Janesville, he helped care for his stepfather.

And despite his general popularity, some people took advantage of his naiveté, Braasch said.

Not many people knew about those tough times because he was so relentlessly positive.

“I’ve had grown women come up to me and say, ‘I knew Bill when I was a little girl,’” Braasch said. “They used to come downtown after school because that’s where their mothers worked. They would sit and read to Bill.”

Everywhere he went, Dunn had fans.

“We would go to eat lunch at the Riverside and we couldn’t get out of the place without someone coming up to him to talk to him about shining shoes or washing windows,” Braasch said.

Dunn’s funeral is at 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Mary’s Church, 313 East Wall St., Janesville. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral.

Braasch, Wood and downtown business owners have donated money for flowers.

They’ve also started a collection for a plaque to honor Dunn. It would be placed somewhere in downtown Janesville, where Dunn did his work and made his friends.

“I thought maybe they could put it in a window somewhere,” Wood said.

TO CONTRIBUTE

Several downtown businesses are collecting money for a plaque honoring Bill Dunn’s life and work. Donations can be sent to or dropped off at Kealey Pharmacy, 21 South Jackson St., Janesville, 53548.

Dunn’s funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Church, 313 E. Wall St., Janesville, with visitation starting an hour before the service.