Former Hartland, MI, Firefighter Who Lost Leg after Collapse Continues to Serve Community

FENTON, MI – A Fenton cashier and former volunteer firefighter was recognized earlier this year for his contributions to his community, as well as fellow veterans and amputees.

David Dunville, 64, has worked at VG’s Grocery, 18005 Silver Parkway, for the past three years.

In September, he was presented with the 2025 SpartanNash Circle of Excellence award during a ceremony in Orlando, Florida. The award was presented by SpartanNash, the company that owns VG’s Grocery.

“Why me? I can’t say, honestly,” Dunville said of being selected for the award. “I can go through and point out 20-30 people here who should also receive the honor.”

Dunville has become well-known around the store, and children at the store light up when they pass through Dunville’s counter where he offers them little smiley face stickers, according to store director Chris Palmer.

“He’s real receptive to the kids,” Palmer said. “If there’s a little kid that’s not having the best of days, Dave goes over there right away and calms them down. Parents love that.”

While he spends much of his time helping others, Dunville has had to overcome challenges of his own.

One of Dunville’s legs was amputated on July 22, 2003, after undergoing 25 surgeries in an attempt to save it.

“Unfortunately, my amputation caused me and my wife to lose our home because we fell behind,” he said. “Workers’ comp wasn’t paying as much as I was bringing in. It’s life. You just go on.”

The amputation stems from an injury he sustained in a May 1999 structure collapse that occurred while he was on duty as a volunteer firefighter in Hartland.

“It’s part of the job,” Dunville said.  

Dunville has not let the loss of his leg slow him down and he maintains a positive outlook, constantly taking the extra time to give back to his community and support other amputees through the Amputee Coalition. He officially joined the organization in 2004.

“I became an amputee peer visitor, which is going into hospitals or physical therapy centers or even over the phone and internet now, helping those that just lost a leg or are about to,” Dunville said. “I do it because I want people to know there is life after an amputation.”

The non-profit organization connected him with several other firefighters who had returned to duty, but Dunville learned he would be unable to do so himself, noting that he could no longer move all his joints.

“That gave me a goal, and I struggled to get to that goal,” he said. “Unfortunately, the State of Michigan’s fire marshal said at that time, ‘If you can’t wiggle your toes, you can’t be a firefighter.’”

Dunville is able to walk thanks to a prosthetic leg, and he has an additional prosthetic leg he uses for swimming and diving.

“I had a very good physical therapy crew,” he said.

When he’s not working or helping others, Dunville spends his time jogging and practicing martial arts, which he began doing with his son David William Dunville, 27, about 10 years ago.

“He was getting ready to quit, so I joined him in doing that,” he said.

Dunville said he feels it’s important to work with other amputees because he wants to provide them with the same support that was offered to him after he lost his leg.

“A lot of people don’t know that opportunity is there, and unfortunately, because it’s a free service, a lot of hospitals do not even consider it,” he said. “And that’s a sad thing right there.”

In addition to his work with other amputees, Dunville, a veteran himself, has played a significant role in organizing Wreaths Across America at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Township.

Dunville’s family spent time living in Madison Heights before moving to Canton and later Coldwater where he joined the U.S. Navy in 1981, beginning nine and a half years of military service. He served at the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I got recalled several times,” Dunville said.

Following his time in the military, Dunville stayed in Jacksonville, working in hotels for about a decade.

He then returned to Michigan after his father, David Alexander Dunville, died following a stroke, but his name lives on through his son and grandson. Dunville noted that the first-born sons in his family have been named David for 10 generations.

Dunville said a SpartanNash-green carpet was rolled out for him during the 2025 Circle of Excellence Award ceremony.

As he walked down the carpet, he was met with confetti, the sound of drums, and cheers from managers, corporate leaders and others from the company.

“It was loud, but it was fun,” Dunville said. “It was nice to be back in Florida for a little bit. We had a great time.”

Additionally, Dunville was also fitted for a varsity-style jacket he received that bears his name and the name of the award.

The Circle of Excellence award is the company’s highest national recognition and is given to associates who “go above and beyond to serve customers and drive success,” according to SpartanNash officials. The company has been presenting the award for five years.

“I think it’s a fantastic award,” Dunville said. “Unfortunately, too many companies are not recognizing the people who are doing the work.”

In the past three years, he has raised more charitable funds than any other cashier in the company, raising almost $8,000 for SpartanNash Foundation fundraisers, according to SpartanNash officials. Additionally, he donated the $500 gift card he received for being named Top Cashier to a local food pantry.

“He’s always been a top fundraiser at the store, not only at the store, but for the entire company nationwide,” Palmer said. “Whatever the charitable organization is, he steps up and represents it fully, especially when it comes time for the veterans fundraiser. He really knocks that one out of the park.”

Dunville has also donated funds to the Amputee Coalition and his church.

“You need to give back,” he said. “It’s the only way that things are going to get better.”

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