Dean was born on July 22, 1945, to Frank and Lois, who preceded him in death. He grew up alongside his brother, Rich, and sister, Susan, and graduated from Mattawan High School before continuing his education at Western Michigan University.

Dean proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. After completing his military service and graduating from college, Dean found his professional passion in logistics. His career took him to Alabama, where something much more important happened. There, he met the love of his life, Sherry.

Dean and Sherry were married in 1975 and began a life together that would span more than 50 years. When Dean married Sherry, he also welcomed her son, Tim, into his life. Dean loved Tim and the energy he brought to their family. Tim's passing in July 2025 was a tremendous loss for Dean and Sherry, and Dean was by his side when he passed.

Dean spent more than 30 years working at Ralph Moyle Trucking. Logistics wasn't simply his profession; it was something for which he had an incredible instinct. Long before GPS became part of everyday life, Dean could help you navigate almost anywhere east of the Mississippi with nothing more than a phone call.

Dean and Sherry enjoyed many adventures together, although some of their favorites were simply getting in the car and taking a long road trip to find a good place for dinner.

Together, they raised two beautiful daughters, Jennifer and Molly. His daughters were the center of Dean's universe, at least until his four grandchildren, Alyssa, Ashlyn, Reagan Jane, and Maxwell Jack, came along.

Dean loved being a Papa. Whether he was watching his grandchildren at a ball field, attending a concert, or simply watching them run around the house, he was happiest when they were near. As they grew older and the daily visits became special trips to see Papa, his eyes would still light up the moment they walked through the door.

Dean could have a tough exterior, but his daughters and grandchildren knew the other side of him. Around them, the tough persona disappeared, and Dean became a teddy bear.

Being with Papa also meant there was probably an adventure ahead. His grandchildren went on countless journeys with him, from learning how to make maple syrup to touring a Ford factory. Many of those adventures ended the way a good adventure should, with a stop at an ice cream shop in some small Michigan town. If the red light was on at Krispy Kreme, an automatic detour was in order. A trip to Culver's or simply sharing some candy could be just as special. He also introduced them to some of his favorite things, like the ever-famous double-decker MoonPie.

Dean also loved to fix things. Over a lifetime, he collected enough tools to solve just about any riddle a project could present. If something was broken, Dean wanted to understand why and then figure out how to make it work again. Also, if you were willing to learn, he was willing to teach you as well.

Friendship was also an important part of Dean's life. He was fortunate to have many great friends who shared in his adventures over the years. His friend Rodney, who preceded him in death, was alongside Dean for hundreds of projects, from fixing cars to remodeling houses.

Dean also loved when his friend John came to visit, especially when their plans involved finding trees that needed to be cut down.

As Dean grew older, he enjoyed watching old Westerns, often with one playing in the background while he worked on something else or simply enjoyed the day.

Through every stage of his life, Dean remained inquisitive. He wanted to understand how things worked, what was happening in the world, and, most importantly, where life was taking the people he loved. That curiosity remained with him until the end.

To his friends and family, Dean was rarely just "Dean." His neighborhood friends appropriately nicknamed him "MacGyver," a tribute to the man who could seemingly fix anything. He was always willing to help them, and later in life, those same neighbors became an incredible group of friends who were always willing to help him.

"Papa" may have been his favorite name of all. Tim called him "Pops," a name filled with affection and respect. To others, he was "Deaner" or "Deano," playful variations on the name Dean. But no matter what you called him, you knew you had a friend, someone who was genuinely interested in you, what you were doing, and where life was taking you.

Dean lived a life built around family, hard work, friendship, curiosity, and the satisfaction of fixing something that needed fixing.

Dean passed on August 24, 2026, and will be deeply missed by his family and many friends. But the lessons he taught, the stories he created, and the memories he gave them will live on forever.

Dean is survived by his wife, Sherry; children, Jennifer Bloomfield (Ted) and Molly Bloomfield; and four grandchildren. Following his wishes, cremation has taken place and no services are being planned at this time.

While visiting Dean’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Lane in Portage, MI 49002, (269 344-5600).