Willis Dean

Willis Dean, 98, long time resident of Atlantic, Iowa, passed on at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center August 20, 2005. Willis was born, the son of William and Carrie (Ritnour) Dean, northeast of Nodaway in Adams County, Iowa, on March 14, 1907. He was schooled in Villisca where he graduated from high school in 1926. Willis was married to Marie (Hering) on June 30, 1928 in Atlantic. They lived in the Walnut, Norway Center area, southwest of Griswold, west of Atlantic and the Corning area. The couple farmed and was blessed with a son and a daughter. He was active in the Fairview United Church of Christ south of Corning and was a member of the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge. Willis was a devoted father and grandfather. He loved caring for his flowers and he enjoyed making grape jelly from the grapes grown on his vine in his back yard.Willis is survived by his son, Donald Dean and his wife, Nellie of Security, CO; his daughter, Beverly Martens and her husband, Vernett of Atlantic; four grandchildren: Julie Knudsen and her husband, Mark Knudsen of Cantonment, FL, Amy Martens of Colorado Springs, CO, Willis A. Dean of Security, CO, and Peggy Knight of Denver, CO; nine great grandchildren; Ben and Emily Knudsen of Crestview, FL, Amanda and Michael Dean, Tiffan, Jessica and Kaitlyn Zinke and Jared Knight, all of Colorado Springs, CO, and Autumn Knight of Denver, CO; nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Esther Parmley of Elk Horn, Iowa.He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, his parents, his step-mother, his sister, Etta Dean and his half sister, Dorothy McCue and his half brother, Doran Dean.Funeral InformationVisitation Services: Tues, Aug 23, 7-8P at Rolands Funeral: 8/24/2005, 10:30:00 AM Burial: Carson Cemetery at Carson, IA