Carolyn Dungan, a lifelong resident of Springfield, had a profound influence on her family, friends and the Springfield community.
“Carolyn was an incredibly kind and generous person,” said John Stremsterfer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln. “She and her family have supported countless causes in our community, and her legacy will be felt for generations to come.”
Her sister, Kathy Germeraad, said, “Carolyn’s legacy is that she made the world around her a more beautiful place.”
Carolyn attended Springfield public schools, graduating from Springfield High School in 1975. She earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Purdue University in 1979 and began her career at Kittles Furniture in Indianapolis. She met her husband, Dan Dungan, in Indianapolis, and they settled in Springfield in 1984. Carolyn created her own business, CSD Design Group, and implemented numerous residential and commercial design projects across central Illinois over many years.
Carolyn’s family was her greatest joy and priority. She was a devoted wife to Dan for over 42 years and proud mother of their twins, Caitlin Simhauser and Colin Dungan. She was Mimi to her granddaughters, Nora and Anna Simhauser. Carolyn adored spending time with the girls, her love and warmth always shining through.
“One of my favorite things about my mom was her ability to enjoy and appreciate the awe and beauty of life,” said Caitlin. “She taught me to look for the good, the beauty and the best in people and in the world,” said son Colin.
From a young age and throughout her life, Carolyn loved art, music and nature. She took art lessons at the Springfield Art Association as a child and as an adult and became a talented artist, excelling in painting and pastels.
“Mom’s love of the arts was bestowed upon me – and my sister – as soon as we could hold a brush. Her love of arts helped me find my own passion as well,” said Colin.
“Carolyn was passionate about visual art and a great supporter of the SAA,” said executive director Betsy Dollar. “She served on the SAA board, chaired the Edwards Place Fine Art Fair, sponsored many events and often pulled weeds and planted flowers to keep the grounds looking good.”
In addition to helping many people make their homes more beautiful, Carolyn’s talents were also exhibited by her love of flowers and gardening. Her yard was her refuge and an oasis. “She nurtured not just her beautiful flowers, but also the hearts of those around her,” said Caitlin. “She appreciated the splendor of our physical world and was a master curator of expressing it for others to see it, too.”
Diane Mathis was a longtime friend and one of her walking buddies at Washington Park. Mathis says Carolyn was “always observant and in awe of the difference in the sunrises with the change of the seasons and how it influenced the natural landscape.” Mathis describes her friend as quiet, gentle, compassionate, strong and humble.
“Carolyn not only cared for her family, she cared about our community – education, arts, health care, business and most importantly, humanity,” said Mathis. “Her generosity and dedication had a broad outreach. She shared countless relationships with people of all interests with friendships built on trust and integrity.”
Carolyn was active in many civic and volunteer organizations – the Junior League of Springfield, P.E.O. Chapter EO, Illini Country Club, Hole-In-The-Wall Golf Club in Naples, Florida, and Naples Yacht Club. She served on the boards of the Springfield Parks Foundation, Illinois Symphony Orchestra and SAA. She was a lifelong member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she served as deacon and elder.
Carolyn’s parents, Mary and Bill Schnirring, founded Springfield Electric. “Carolyn saw from a young age how committed her parents were to helping others, and she carried on their legacy of service in so many ways,” said Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health. “She brought warmth, creativity and passion to everything she did, especially her work in the community, and inspired others to follow her example.”
The Schnirring, Dungan and Germeraad families all established funds at the CFLL, and Carolyn’s focus was the arts.
“I’m interested in expanding the arts in the community,” Carolyn said at the time. “It’s always one of the first things that is cut in schools. Not every student is great at math and science, English or history. We think the arts help a student become a well-rounded individual, helping our community thrive.”
“She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, creativity, and compassion, said Caitlin. “Let us honor her by carrying her light forward, nurturing beauty and grace in our own lives and extending a helping hand to others, just as she did.”
Karen Ackerman Witter admired Carolyn Dungan for many years, witnessing her many acts of kindness. Carolyn planted flowers along the fence and sidewalk next to her house and put out a water bowl for dogs, simply to enrich the lives of others who happened to walk by her corner of the place she called home.
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This article appears in Remembering 2024.
