Harry Dean Jr.

HARRY J. DEAN JR.

Iowa City

Harry J. Dean Jr., 88, longtime area educator and coach, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, at the Crestview Care Center in West Branch.

Arrangements are pending for later date in September to be announced through Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family, please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Harry was born Sept. 25, 1929, in Iowa City. Among his many accomplishments, Harry was a member of the 1946 City High state championship basketball team. Harry's lifelong passion for golf helped him become the 1947 Iowa state junior golf champion. After graduating from City High School, Harry spent some time working at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played golf with the legendary Ben Hogan. He served in the United States Navy and attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in teaching.

Harry coached many teams, including high school football, track, golf and his favorite, girls' basketball, where he took teams from Walnut and Pleasantville, Iowa, to the state tournament in Des Moines. Upon returning to Iowa City in 1964, Harry taught math and science at City High and for a couple of years was the assistant principal. Harry then moved to West High, where he continued his teaching and was instrumental in starting the girls' basketball program. One of Harry's proudest moments was being inducted into the City High Hall of Fame in 2011!

His family includes his sister, Barbara Homewood of Iowa City; his sons, Jeff of Las Vegas, Nev., Steve of Sunset, S.C., and Doug of Blue Eye, Mo.; along with seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Sr. and Grace Dean; and his wife of 67 years, Sherry.

Harry will be missed by the many students he taught and coached during his career. He lived a rich, fulfilled life and was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend!