Dane J. Dunford, age 6, of Liberty Center, OH, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday evening, March 15, 2016. Dane was born in Wauseon, OH on April 23, 2009 to Jeffrey Dunford and Janey (Allen) Dunford. He was a First Grade student at Liberty Center Schools.
At age 5, Dane was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. He endured nine months of chemotherapy treatments and surgery to remove the cancer. However, in early December the cancer came back and after trying one more round of chemo, Dane and his family bravely decided to stop treatments to enjoy his time left here on earth. He was able to visit Disney World through the Make a Wish Foundation, visit with friends in Bloomington, IN and visit his family and friends in Utah before his death. The Liberty Center community made a dream come true in giving Dane a chance to meet so many of his favorite Star Wars heroes and be a scientist for a day.
Dane will be missed and remembered by his parents, Jeffrey and Janey; siblings, Joy, Gray, Wesley and Aaron; maternal grandparents, Rudy and Peg Allen; paternal grandparents, Dan and Penny Dunford; great-grandmothers, Shirley Allen and Lenora Smout Roddy, and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A public memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 858 S. Shoop Ave., Wauseon, Ohio 43567. Branch President Scott Allen will be officiating. Interment will be private at Winameg Cemetery in Delta. The family would also like to invite you to a benefit fundraiser and life celebration on Dane’s 7th birthday, April 23, 2016, 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM, at the American Legion in Delta.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo Children’s Hospital’s Debbie Brass Children’s Cancer Center and Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, IN for excellent care and their loving staff. A thank you is also extended to the Liberty Center community especially the Elementary School for being so supportive, welcoming and accommodating to Dane’s needs. You made a huge difference in Dane’s life and helped build memories that will always last.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Dane’s honor to any of the following organizations: the Allen Family Foundation, 9705 Co Rd 8-1, Delta, Ohio 43515 or through his website at www.AllenFamilyFoundation.net (contributions will benefit Dane’s family with any excess funds being donated to charities involving childhood cancer), the Make a Wish Foundation at wish.org/donate, Give Kids the World Village at gktw.org and Northwest Ohio Hospice at hospicenwo.org.
Arrangements are entrusted to Barnes Funeral Chapel, 5825 St. Hwy. 109 in Delta. Online condolences may be sent to the family through our website atwww.barnesfuneralchapel.com