Ruth Jean (Fennell) Dean (1924-2010)

DEAN, FENNELL, STINITIS, STEVENS, BOGAERT, VANDER VEEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/6/2012 at 20:41:40

From Adams & Soderstrum Funeral Home obituary, Story County, Iowa:

Ruth Dean

BORN: March 27, 1924

DIED: November 27, 2010

LOCATION: Ames, Iowa

Ruth Jean Fennell Dean passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2010, at Heartwood House in Ames, at the age of 86 years and 8 months. A celebration of life will be held at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames on Wednesday, December 1, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at Adams Funeral Home.

Ruth was born on March 27th, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Mary (Stinitis) and Patrick Fennell. She and her siblings were raised mostly by their mother (their father dying when they were young) in the midst of the great depression. Those childhood experiences taught her a strong work ethic, and the importance of family and of a good education being available to all children regardless of a family’s circumstances.

Ruth graduated from Farragut High School in Chicago in 1941, having received a music letter for participation in the school’s orchestra as a violinist. She went to work for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company.

She met her future husband Dwight Gantz Dean at the Chicago Temple, and they were married in Chicago on April 22, 1949. Dwight passed away on December 5, 1989.

She took great delight in children, helping raise two sons, and later enjoying time with her grandchildren. The value she placed on children and on education was also seen in her teaching career. She graduated from Capital University with a teaching degree in 1962. She later earned her Master’s in Education from Iowa State University. She taught early elementary classes at Mound School in Newark, Ohio, and United Community School in Iowa.

When able, Ruth was an active member of Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames, and the ISU Faculty Wives (volunteering at their Thrift Store).

In her later years, Ruth developed Alzheimer’s disease. With the help of improving medications and wonderful staff, she was able to live for several years at Sterling House/Bickford Cottage and enjoy time with family and friends. When her health necessitated greater care, Ruth was blessed by the loving care of the staff of Heartwood House. Even in her later stages of Alzheimer’s, Ruth’s nurturing nature was seen with her great-grandson, and later with dolls and stuffed animals.

Ruth finally “slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God” on Saturday morning,
November 27th, 2010.

She is survived by her two sons, Philip L. Dean (Sarah Macht) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Rev. Bob Dean (Diane) of Oskaloosa, Iowa, two grandchildren, Megan Stevens of Des Moines, Iowa, and Thomas Dean of Oskaloosa, and two great grandchildren Caleb and Ashley Stevens, two nephews and three nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother Frank Fennell, two sisters, Mary Bogaert and Estelle Vander Veen.

Funeral Service

December 01, 2010

10:30 AM

Collegiate United Methodist

2622 West Lincoln Way

Ames, IA 50014

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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