Dean, Charles Robert 'Bob'

Charles Robert “Bob” Dean, 67, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at his home following a long battle with cancer. Instead of services, the family will be hosting an open house for friends and family at the residence of Bob and Rita in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 23, from noon to 3 p.m.

Bob was born March 29, 1946, in Lancaster, Mo., the son of Charles and Helen (Gooden) Dean, the oldest of five siblings. From Lancaster, the family moved to Iowa City in the 1950s. Bob attended Iowa City High and graduated in 1963.

He was drafted by the military in 1965, shortly after meeting his high school sweetheart from West Branch, Rita Ellen Jeffries. As an artillery specialist in the Marines, Bob served in the Vietnam conflict from 1966-1967. Returning home, he immediately proposed marriage to Rita. They were wed on Nov. 17, 1967, in Davenport, Iowa.

On Nov. 19, 1968, they gave birth to their first son, Jeffrey Charles Dean. They gave birth to their second son, Robert Beckham Dean on July 5, 1977.

In 1970, Bob went to work for Nash Finch Co. in Cedar Rapids, where he remained employed until a sudden stroke in 1995 made him incapable of working. Four years after the stroke, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which he survived, until June 2013, when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.

Bob is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rita of Cedar Rapids; his son, Jeff and his fiancee, Vicki Decker of Cedar Rapids; his son, Rob and daughter-in-law Lisa Dean (Lewis) of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Donna Homewood of Cedar Rapids; his brother, Danny Dean and sister-in-law Jackie Dean (O'Donnell) of West Liberty; his sister, Patricia Gardner (Dean) and brother-in-law Paul Gardner of Cedar Rapids; and his sister, Virginia Dean of Portland, Ore.

Bob had eight grandchildren whom he adored: Alex and Andrew Dean of Lisbon, Beckham and Tiernan Brazil of Austin, Texas, Grace and Noah Conway of Cedar Rapids and Aaron and Lucas Dean of Cedar Rapids.

Bob enjoyed the simple things of life: gardening, music, poker, and cookouts. You always knew where you stood with Bob, and if you didn't know he wasn't shy about telling you. He enjoyed traveling, often to Missouri, Wisconsin, and various casinos in the Midwest. He enjoyed watching Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders.

Most of all, Bob loved his family and going out of his way to support the ones he loved. He will be missed by all he knew, but we find solace in that he has found peace.

Published Nov. 17, 2013 in The Gazette