RAPID CITY- John T. Schunneman died at his home at Westhills Village Retirement Community in Rapid City, South Dakota on June 16, 2014, at the age of 82. John Thomas Schunneman, August 31, 1931 - June 16, 2014, was an American electrical-power-utility company manager and a valued friend to many. For those fortunate enough to have known him, he'll be happily remembered for many reasons - most especially for his loving nature, for his optimism, enthusiasm and patience, for his devotion to family, for his energetic hard work, and for his easy smile. John Thomas (J.T.) was born in the small town of Platte, South Dakota to Mary Ellen (Lynch) Schunneman and John William Schunneman. At an early age J.T. moved with his family to Sioux City, Iowa, and started public school there. At that time, J.T.'s father (John W.) was an auto mechanic, and his mother was a homemaker. In 1941 the family moved to Deadwood, South Dakota. In 1942 the family moved to a cabin in Boulder Canyon east of Deadwood, then back into town in 1945, to a two-story house in the First Ward. Including J.T., the family had four sons and one daughter: Robert, J.T., Paul, Jimmy, and Patti. John W. worked two jobs in Deadwood. In the morning he worked at a dairy. In the afternoon until midnight he was a bartender at the Buffalo Bar. Ellen worked in a plant cutting mica during the war years. She later had a job driving the car for a woman who sold vacuum cleaners around her territory. J.T. played basketball at school for two years. Then he played football in high school where he lettered in football two years. He graduated from Deadwood High School in the spring of 1949. His parents and younger siblings moved to California, where they settled permanently. John W. was able to pursue employment there as a carpenter, and Ellen held a variety of jobs in California. J.T. went to work for the Black Hills Power and Light Company (BHP&L) in May 1949, at the age of 17. He started as a groundman and worked on a hole-digging crew for a year. In 1950 he began training as a lineman. He became a journeyman lineman in 1953 when the line crew moved their headquarters to Rapid City. He then became a working foreman in 1954. In 1962 J.T. moved into the new dispatch center at the Ben French Station. He worked as a system controller in January 1972. He was promoted to manager of System Operations in 1990. He worked there until his retirement - at the very end of 1993. He married June Zaiser in June 1950 in Deadwood, South Dakota. They divorced in 1953. Their one son, Richard Allen, was adopted by June and Bill Fish in 1955. At age 22, J.T. was married to the love of his life, Doris McFall. They were married on February 13, 1954 in the First Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. They were loving, dedicated, and informed parents. They had three children - Lea Ann, Vicki, and Gregory. Lea Ann died from a car accident in 1957. Vicki and Greg both graduated from high school in Rapid City. After living in their house in the Robbinsdale subdivision for a number of years, in 1963 Doris and J.T. bought a small house and ten acres of land in Nameless Cave Canyon, west of Rapid City. They had bought a German Shepherd puppy before moving to the country. Greg and Vicki named her "Winkie." A water well was drilled that autumn. Two horses - "Red" and "Cowboy" - were bought on February 11, 1967. Remodeling on the house was started the summer of 1967, and completed in 1970. J.T. did most of the remodeling work himself. During their twenty years living in the country,' J.T. and Doris cared for their children, worked at home and at their offices, played, beautified their home and yard, vegetable-gardened, grew flowers and trees, baked and cooked extensively, canned pickles, volunteered to help others, went walking in the canyon, and accommodated many extended-family gatherings. They enjoyed exchanging visits with friends and family. They studied spirituality and religion at home - individually and with immediate family, and in groups with family or friends as well. J.T. was always a keen reader. He read books continuously, and his choices were wide and eclectic. He crafted toys and useful objects from wood and leather and old jewelry and nature. He built and repaired everything around a house and yard. He was a good communicator, including being a true listener. He practiced kindness and patience. He laughed much and enjoyed the playfulness of children. He liked listening to music and singing. He was a good storyteller and a good teacher. He studied herbs and various human health topics. He liked to make handmade gifts, and, with Doris, to decorate the house. They enjoyed taking family photographs and making photo albums, and compiling genealogical information. John helped his son Greg and wife Cheryl remodel their first house. When their first grandchild, Jeremy, was born, John and Doris were both ecstatic as well as down-to-earth grandparents, and cared for him often. J.T. and Doris sold the Nameless Cave Canyon home and land in August 1984, to buy a house in west Rapid City. Shortly before that, Doris had retired from office work, but not from home work.' J.T. travelled a bit for his job, worked on the house and the yard, golfed. They both toured around the Black Hills a bit, spent time with their son Greg and his family, and visited with local friends and Doris's local family members. They used most vacation times to visit their daughter Vicki and her family in Idaho or Wyoming, to sometimes travel outside of Rapid City to visit with their family members - in California, in Florida, in Nebraska, in North Dakota, and to entertain at home, to spend quiet time at the cabin in nearby Spearfish Canyon, to complete home improvement projects, to help others with projects, and occasionally to travel to a new location just for the fun and interest of it. In December 1995 J.T. and Doris bought an apartment condominium on Fairway Hills Drive in Rapid City, and enjoyed that home for many years. They continued to travel regularly out-of-state through about 2001. They enjoyed their children and grandchildren. In February 2014, J.T. and Doris celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Recently, J.T. enjoyed spending time supporting Ben's Bells, which paired perfectly with the kindness that he has always shared with others on a daily basis. Monetary gifts received In Memoriam are being donated to the Ben's Bells non-profit organization. In recent years, John learned to use Facebook,' and he began participating in the Alzheimer's Association "Walk to End Alzheimer's," to end Alzheimer's disease by raising awareness and funds for care, support, and research. J.T. always loved doing thoughtful things for people. How he enjoyed playing with his youngest grandchild, Keean! J.T. enjoyed being in the company of people, and he also enjoyed solitude. Of course he's completely irreplaceable. Survivors include his wife Doris Schunneman of Rapid City; one daughter, Vicki Farrar and her son, Andrew of Boise, Idaho; one son, Greg Schunneman and his children; a son, Jeremy Schunneman (Molly), daughter Khrista Nelson (Justin), and sons Kyle Schunneman and Keean Schunneman, all of Rapid City. Also surviving are three brothers: Robert Schunneman (Lilian) of Staintz, Austria; Paul Schunneman (Barbara Lee) of San Jose, California; Jimmy Schunneman (Barbara Jean) of Moss Beach, California; one sister, Patricia Schunneman of Sunnyvale, California. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lea Ann in 1957, his father, John W. in 1974, and his mother, Mary Ellen in 1996. John's family thanks again the lovely people of the Hospice of the Hills. Thank you for your professional and caring work during his last months. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Rev. Herb B. Cleveland officiating. Following the service there will be a time of sharing with coffee and cookies. Interment will follow at 11:45 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery. The family suggests that memorials may be made to Ben's Bells or the Alzheimer's Association.