WIARDA, Dean 1920-2017

WIARDA, ACKERMAN, KLINK

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:14

Dean Wiarda, 96, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2017 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital, Long Term Care. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 13, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center, with Masonic Rites conducted by the Grundy Center Masonic Emerald Lodge # 334. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Dean was born on August 20, 1920, to his parents, Jacob and Rena (Ackerman) Wiarda. He was raised and educated in Iowa. On September 4, 1945, Dean was united in marriage to Ferne Klink at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Dean was in the life and health insurance business since 1957. The last 21 years of his career were spent with Northwestern National Life Insurance of Minneapolis, MN. He was proud to have helped so many people and families with their life and health insurance needs. Dean and Ferne farmed together in Dike, Dows and Stout. Together they welcomed three children into their family. The family settled to Grundy Center in 1958.

Dean was very proud to be a Mason. He entered Masonry at the Dike Honor Lodge #636 on February 8, 1955 and went through the chairs to become Worshipful Master in 1961. Later he transferred his membership to the Emerald Lodge #334, in Grundy Center and served the lodge as Worshipful Master in 1969. He joined the Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Bodies in November of 1966 and became very active in membership work, top-lined 30 petitions and was active on the Speakers Bureau.

Dean received the Honorary Investure of Knight Commander Court of Honor in October of 1977. He served on the Cedar Rapids Council of Kadosh and was Commander in 1983. Dean was also a member of the Scottish Rite Charitable and Education Foundation of Iowa and served as one of its Board of Directors. He was also a former member of Eastern Star.

Dean joined the El-Kahir Shrine in November of 1966. There he was very active in membership work with 25 top-lined petitions. He joined the Waterloo newly formed El Mecca Clowns in January of 1970. He was very active in the unit, holding all offices at numerous times. Dean was also a member of the International Shrine Clowns Association and the Central States Shrine Clowns Association.

He entered competitions in makeup and costume at the various conventions and placed first at the Central States Shrine Convention in Denver, in September of 1993. He made regular calls to shut-ins, nursing homes, hospitals and entertained children of all ages. Dean was also a member of the Clowns of America International since 1970 and World Clowns Association for over 15 years. Dean helped teach others the art of clowning, makeup, costumes and various magic and street performance.

Dean was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church in Grundy Center. He was very active in the church serving on the Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee and was a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of the local Boy Scout Troop #38 committee, working on financial help for the local scout troop. He served as a Rainbow Dad and was active in the support of the Rainbow Girls.

Dean served on the Grundy Center Volunteer Fire Department and taught Red Cross First Aid to members of the Department and the community. Dean and Ferne enjoyed traveling together with their travel trailer, going south in the winter months and regularly visiting the Lodges in the area. He was a member of the Central Iowa Travel Masters Club, which is made up of members of the Masonic Lodge.

Dean is survived by his children Judy (Larry) Buchan and their son Shannon Buchan, all of Waterloo, Iowa, Sandi Hill and her daughter Morgan Hill, both of Cary, Illinois and his son Dennis (Deanna) Wiarda of Loveland, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ferne, many brothers and sisters and son-in-law Tracy Hill.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)