Robert Logan Dunning was born April 13, 1919 to David and Mamie (Kramer) Knowles in Bemidji, Minnesota. His mother dies when he was 6 months old. He was raised and adopted by his mother's cousin, Elizabeth (Ney) Dunning.
Bob graduated from High School in 1938 where he was active in Future Farmers of America, the school band and church choir. He farmed with his father, Frank Dunning, in Jefferson Township milking cows at the "Dunning Guernsey Dairy" and delivering bottled milk and cream door to door in Waukon. This was before refrigeration, and Bob was severely scolded if by chance the milk or cream was sour or it wasn't delivered in time for breakfast. He was very proud that he made is daily deliveries and was "never once late to school"
His father had great confidence in his abilities, giving him a great deal of responsibilities at a young age. At 16 he allowed Bob to use dynamite to clear farmland - Once using 100 lbs of dynamite under just one stump leaving a hole deep enough to put a car in lengthwise! Bob began farming full time following graduation.
Bob married Olive Herman on October 30, 1943. His parents retired and moved to town that same year. Bob and Olive took over the farm keeping busy running a grade A dairy farm, raising and educating 2 girls and a boy.
As a dairy farmer interested in increasing efficiency and productivity, he traveled to southern Illinois to look at an innovative herringbone milking parlor design featured in a farming magazine. After taking measurements of the equipment (as well as of his cows!) he drew up the plans and did the the majority of the building himself in 1958
He farmed with innovative and creative ideas, repairing, modifying and building much of his own machinery and equipment. On one occasion, he created a 5 bottom plow (made from two 3 bottom plows) pulled by two tractors operated by one driver. A Minneapolis Molin "U" tractor was attached to an International Harvester 400 tractor by taking the front wheels off and setting the axle on the hitch. The trailing tractor was operated from the lead tractor with extensions of the hand clutch and throttle. His son, Phillip, remembers that "this was quite an outfit" and will never forge the "thrill" he got from forgetting to throttle down as he made a sharp turn at the top of the hill, completely flipping the plow.
When Bob retired in 1981, he continued his tinkering and inventing. He enjoyed sawing lumber from his farm woods, curing and building beautiful furniture for his family and friends. He loved ans was very proud of his highly modified one man sawmill.
His creativity often emerged in surprising ways. Family and friend were astonished when they received their first Christmas poem a few years ago. As he weakened from cancer, he refused to give up. When he couldn't lift his legs 12 inches, he built a ladder with 6-inch steps. When he couldn't lift an object, he made yet another winch. One of his most recent inventions was a device designed to depress the nozzle of an aerosol can. It is a fascinating design that works well.
Bob was a quiet and an intensely private man, with strong values that he passed on to his children. His love of the land is indicated by his wish to have his ashes spread on the farmland he loved. 
He passed into rest on November 4, 2005.
Me and my grandfather on my wedding day. My eldest child's middle name is "Logan" after him
Snow Mocasins. Waterproof. Anti-skid soles. Aren't they handsome? And inside, a pair of my handknit Mountain Colors socks. Usually too thick to fit in any of my shoes. Love, love. 
Had lunch at a most amusing looking McDonalds. Yes, that's a Micky-Dee's inside a historic house.
Remember this yarn? 
After perfecting my Navajo Plying techniques, messing up the setting of the twist, and learning a new cast on method, I have these lovely new hats for the boys to wear. I wonder how many more years I'll be able to dress them like this?
