Richard "Dick" Bunce

Richard “Dick” Allen Bunce, 79 of Hager City, Wisconsin passed away on Monday, June 9, 2025, at his home. Richard was born on August 26, 1945, to Ralph and Dorothy (Gibbs) Bunce at home in Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

He grew up on a farm where he enjoyed farming, hunting and fishing. As he got older, he got his first car which was a “fixer upper” and wasn’t thrilled about that. But that is where he developed his love for repairing cars.

In high school he met the love of his life Mary, and they got married in 1963 and settled into a small trailer house. It was there that they began their family. Times were tough and they struggled to make ends meet. Dick took on three jobs, McMahon Chevrolet in Durand, WI, working at a gas station in Plum City, and farming. In 1966 they moved to Hager City, WI where he began working for Coca Cola in sales and delivery. He loved the people that he met over the years and made long-lasting friendships with many. In the evening, he worked at Gilbertson’s Body Shop and at Russ Oberg’s Auto Repair continuing his love of automobiles.

As time went on, he decided to open his own shop called “Dicks Auto Body”. It started out as a family venture with Mary and their kids working at the body shop. When his son Rick graduated High School 1982, the business went from nights and weekends to a full-time business with four employees. Dick would get home from his day job and join the team around 2-3pm and work into the evening. Then in 1989, Dick left Coca Cola and acquired his auto dealer’s license, and the shop continued to thrive providing mechanical, wrecker, car sales and automotive repair. Dick had a passion for finding each customer the perfect vehicle and was touched by the trust and loyalty that kept bringing customers back. Later he was joined at the car auction by his brother, Bob and Quint Ekstrom, and they became “The Three Musketeers” of car sales. Their adventures and stories brought Dick some of his greatest joys and memories.

Dick enjoyed going camping, fishing and snowmobiling with family. As the family grew, he enjoyed a couple nicknames “Pops”, and “Papa”. He loved going out to lunch and on road trips with his brother, Barry. He enjoyed going elk hunting in Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado with his son, Rick and brother, Bob and friends. Dick and Mary traveled on their Gold Wing Motorcycle, to the Smokey Mountains, Black Hills, Tennessee, Niagara Falls and several other places with good friends. For decades he enjoyed deer camp at Danbury with friends and family. Later in life, he decided to stop renting out his land and started farming with his grandson. Farming gave him great joy and of course the equipment had to be RED! And what he drove had to be a Ford!

Dick never forgot those tough times and always had a fierce work ethic to provide for his family. He also was a very generous man who loved the community and helped many along the way. He was Trenton Town Chairman for 12 years; he donated to several charities and fund raisers and never took his success or his customers for granted. He was a master storyteller who could always brighten someone’s day and make them laugh. He had a great sense of humor and a quick wit.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years Mary, their daughter Lisa (Eric) Wollenberg of Hager City, their sons Rick, and his fiancé Jane Winters, of Hager City, and Ron (Amy) Bunce of Sacramento, CA; his cherished grandchildren Cassandra, Kaitlynn, Carson, Colton, Amanda and Todd; great grandchildren Ava (who he called his little princess), Marcie, Ella and Greyson; his brother Barry (Deb) Bunce; sister in law Diana Bunce; nieces and nephews; and all the team members at Dicks Auto Body which were family to him. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rolland Bunce and brother, Bob Bunce.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 28th from 1-4pm at the Bluffs Bar and Grill in Hager City, WI.