Dedic, Dean E.

Dean E. Dedic, 76, of Center Point, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2013, at his home. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. Service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Dean Emil Dedic was born Jan. 13, 1937, to Emil and Ann Dedic. Dean's father was a Czechoslovakian immigrant at the age of seven.

Dean was raised on the family farm north of Center Point, attended Blue Creek country school, graduated from Center Point High School in 1956, received his degree from U.S. Trade School in Kansas City and worked as a mechanic until he entered the service.

Dean married Nadine Grimm on Oct. 14, 1959, in Iowa City. Shortly after getting married, he left for the service on Oct. 19, 1959, was stationed in Germany for two years and discharged in February 1961.

Dean was a lifelong mechanic with a garage in Cedar Rapids and later in rural Center Point. In addition to being a mechanic he worked at Square D. He and his wife, Nadine, leased property in Cedar Rapids for a go cart rental track, owned and operated D and N Kart Way. In 1969, they purchased a farm south of Center Point in Linn County. They began farming, moved to the property in 1972 and opened their new mechanic's garage on the site in 1974.

In a previous business they met George and Marilyn Fett. George was a gun dealer and asked Dean to do gunsmith work. Operating under the authority of George's license, Dean opened a gunsmith shop doing work for George. The two couples became fast friends traveling the country together. After George's death, Dean obtained a gun dealers license continuing the business as a dealer and gunsmith.

Dean began driving the special education bus for Center Point-Urbana Schools. Retiring from the school in 2008, he continued operating the mechanic garage, the gunsmith shop and traveling the gun show circuit with his wife. They attended shows in Orlando, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Tulsa as well as being a well known dealer and gunsmith at Eastern Iowa gun shows.

Dean's family consists of his parents, Emil and Ann, whom are deceased; his wife, Nadine; their three children, Cindy (Jim) Brockhohn of Forest City, John of Garber and Terri (Dan) Perrin of Center Point; six grandchildren, Jada, Jill, Jimmy, Jamie, Zachary and Crystal; six great-grandchildren, Katelynn, Dylan, Carter, Bentley, Laylah and Lexton; a sister, Elaine; and nieces and nephews.

Also living at home with Dean and Nadine is their faithful companion and dog, Prince.

In lieu of flowers, direct memorial to the family.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at under Obituaries.

Published in The Gazette May 21, 2013.