MADISON - Lauretta Marie Dunbar, age 101, of Madison, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at VitaCare Living of Mount Horeb. She was born on November 23, 1924, in Madison, Wis., where she lived most of her life.

After graduating high school, Lauretta married James Hardyman, they had three daughters together, and traveled the world while James served in the U.S. Army. She had a second chance at love uniting in marriage to James Dunbar in 1971 in Sun Prairie, Wis. They cherished their trips to Hawaii and attending Army reunions around the country.

Lauretta enjoyed traveling, working on word search books and sewing handmade potholders. She loved time spent with family and friends, a good joke and an occasional dirty martini. Lauretta was a devoted homemaker who dedicated her life to caring for her family and creating a lifetime of warm and loving memories. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, who was deeply loved and will be missed.

Lauretta is survived by her daughters, Alice Dresen, Patricia Hardyman and Sheila (James) Theisen; stepdaughter, Diane Dunbar; grandchildren and several other family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Laura (Heineck) Tucker; her husband, James Dunbar; and several other family members.

No services will be held, and a private burial will take place at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002

Lauretta Marie Dunbar

November 23, 1924 - September 15, 2026

Share photos of Lauretta