Kenneth Dean

Kenneth H. Dean, 79, of Felch, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. He was born May 8, 1934 in Chicago, son of the late B. Howard and Myrtle "Bonnie" (Lantz) Dean. Ken lived with his late grandparents, Edward & Anna (Dixon) Lantz from his freshman year thru graduation from Felch High School in 1952. During his high school years he worked on his uncles farm & also in the woods. He joined the U.S. Navy and was medically discharged in 1953. Ken returned to Felch and went to work at the Niagara Paper Mill. He married Janet Lee Edberg, daughter of the late Helmer & Kristina (Paulic) Edberg on Dec. 26th, 1953at Zion Lutheran in Metropolitan. They lived in Kingsford, MI & later in Iron Mountain, MI, where their two children were born. In 1959 they moved to Norwalk, CA where Ken worked building patios & then for Armstrong Flooring. They returned to the Felch area in 1963. Soon after, the family moved to Marquette where he attended NMU, graduating in 1968. While there he was very active in the Vet's club and also became a professor's class assistant which helped pay for his books. Ken taught school in Rock, MI for 2 years as an industrial education instructor, math teacher & he also coached basketball & football. The family then moved to Sault Ste. Marie where he was instrumental in the pilot program D.R.I.V.E. ( Disadvantaged Retention in School thru Vocational Education) & held that position for 9 years. He also taught drivers education, coached basketball & football, was active in the city basketball league (played & later refereed) & in their softball program. He kept in touch with the friends he made in the Soo through the years, especially his "fishing & golfing buddies". He was a lifetime member of the Soo Elks Club. In 1979, Ken accepted a job with the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District where he worked for Special Education as their Compliance & Monitoring Coordinator until retiring in 1996. Ken & Janet Lee had previously purchased the Paulic Farm in Ralph, MI & that is where they lived for the next 25 years, eventually selling it to their boys, Bill Dean & Ron Taipalus, & it is now "Camp Pair-a-dice." At that time they moved to the Felch area. Ken loved sports, & when he could no longer play, he refereed basketball & umpired baseball games. He was an active participant in the Wishigan baseball league as a player, umpire, announcer & never missed a Felch baseball tournament for many, many years. He also loved fishing, hunting, & golf until he could no longer participate. He was one of the original 8 members who built "The Boars Nest" hunting lodge outside of Felch until it was sold after 40 years of wonderful times & memories. He loved his children & when they were growing up, he & his wife Janet Lee made it their priority to take many trips with them from one end of this country to the other. When the grandchildren came along, they did the same with them. Ken & J.L. loved cruising & did so many times with family & friends. He also loved his annual trip with friends to Las Vegas which he did for over 50 years. For many years, Ken & Janet Lee spent winters in California with his mom & step-dad, Harold "Rocky" Rasmussen. Ken leaves his children, Krisanne (David) Dennocenzo of Hardwood, William Dean of Iron Mountain, and Ron Taipalus of Sault Ste. Marie; grandchildren, Dean Dennocenzo and Dylan (Madeline) Dennocenzo, both of Felch, Brandi Dean, and Lindsey Mashak of Iron Mountain; great-grandchildren, Ava Lee, Parker Kenneth, Taylor Grace and Ethan James Dennocenzo, all of Felch; his step-dad, Harold "Rocky" Rasmussen of Newbury Park, CA; a brother-in-law, Helmer (Johney) Edberg; a sister-in-law, Delores Burton; special friends, Ron & Dewey Solberg, Ted Mattson and Yut Wickman; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Janet on September 27, 2011 and two brothers, John Edward & David Allen Dean. Visitation will be on Friday from 10:00am to 1:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Metropolitan. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm at the church. Pastor Joel Smeby will officiate. Ken will be buried on the Paulic/Dean farm in Ralph joining many family members. Pallbearers will be Dylan & Dean Dennocenzo, Roger Stenfors, Keith & Tim Paquette and Glen Siegler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Zion Lutheran Church. Condolences to the family of Ken Dean may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Kenneth Dean

July 9, 1934 - July 9, 2013