Richard 'Rich' W. Dean

MASON CITY Richard Wendell Dean, age 83, of Mason City, died Thursday, June 30, 2011, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit following complications from a fall in his home. A celebration of life will be held 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 2, 2011, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 1st St NE, with Pastor Paul Collier officiating, with food and music to follow in the basement of the church. A private family inurnment will be held prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Lakeside Dixie Fest, 84 Four Winds Drive, Clear Lake, IA 50428; First Congregational UCC Music Performance Fund, 100 1st St NE, Mason City, IA 50401; Stebens Childrens Theatre Foundation, 616 N Delaware Ave, Mason City, IA 50401; or Iowa Organ Donor Network, 8191 Birchwood Ct # A, Johnston, IA 50131.

Richard was born December 16, 1927, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of the late Earl Dean and Florence Wilkinson. Dean led a multifaceted life as a farmer, philanthropist, artist/musician, and dedicated family man. He attended a one room country school, Mason City High School, North Iowa JC, and earned a BS from Iowa State University in 1950. Rich also farmed the Century Farm started by his grandfather in 1885, raising hogs, cattle, grain until his sabbatical in 1989. Community and national organizations have included state chair, Iowa Heart Association, board member American Heart Association, treasurer Foundation for the Arts in Iowa, chair Cerro Gordo County Pork Producers, chair North Iowa Medical Center, chair North Iowa Community Auditorium Agency, chair Mason City Production Credit Association, chair PCA of the Midlands, Farm Credit Council, chair Portland Coop Elevator, 4-H and ISU Extension. He remained very active in all aspects of the First Congregational UCC church (past president), noon Lions Club (past president), Stebens Childrens Theatre Foundation and the Pleasant Ridge Club. He was a founder of the Lakeside Dixie Fest held annually in Clear Lake, IA, and Founder for Raiders of the Lost Art. Richs musical training began at 10 playing violin - MCHS and ISU Orchestra. He was a sax player and soloist with ISU Band and Mason City Municipal Band, and a bass player with North Iowa Jazz Ensemble, North Iowa Symphony Orchestra. He continued to play in the Coalition Big Band, Spatsn Flappers Speakeasy Orchestra, and gigged through the years with the Hob Mason Trio and other jazz groups. He was also an avid potter with the Mudworkers Group at the MacNider Art Museum.

Richard is survived by his wife, Shirley (Haight); sons, Kevin (Torill Kove) of Montreal, Bruce (Jayne) of Omaha, NE, Mark (Beth) of Inver Grove Heights, MN; brother, Allan of Monterey, MA; grandchildren, Runa, Andrew, Michael, Ryan, Megan, Jenny; nieces and nephews in MA and CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gerald.

Memorials:
Memorials may be made to Lakeside Dixie Fest, 84 Four Winds Drive, Clear Lake, IA 50428; First Congregational UCC Music Performance Fund, 100 1st St NE, Mason City, IA 50401; Stebens Childrens Theatre Foundation, 616 N Delaware Ave, Mason City, IA 50401; or Iowa Organ Donor Network, 8191 Birchwood Ct # A, Johnston, IA 50131.

Cemetery:
First Congregational United Church of Christ Columbarium

Service:
A celebration of life will be held 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 2, 2011, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 1st St NE, with inurnment in the church columbarium, with food and music to follow in the basement of the church