Gerald Anthony Dean

GERALD DEAN

CARROLLTON – Gerald Anthony Dean, 85, formerly of Jerseyville, passed away at 4:40 p.m., Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Jerseyville Manor.

He was born on the family farm in Hardin, Illinois on August 12, 1938 and was one of three sons born to the late Jacob and Lenora (Gotway) Dean.

From a young age, Gerald was installed with the values of hard work and a love for nature and the great outdoors.

He attended St. Francis Catholic School in Jerseyville and every Friday as the school week drew to a close, he would bring his gun to school. The nuns would remove the ammunition and hold them for safe-keeping and at the end of the school day he would have them returned to him and he would begin his walk to the water tower, where he would meet the newspaper carrier and hitch a ride back to his grandparents farm in Calhoun County. He would spend the entire weekend hunting and working on the farm, from sun up to sun down. Hunting of all kinds, from squirrel and rabbit to deer and turkey, remained a lifelong hobby of Gerald’s.

He also enjoyed fishing, camping with family and friends and spending time boating on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

In addition to his time spent working on the farm, he worked alongside his father in the family business as an apprentice plumber, before discovering his own calling as a concrete finisher. He owned and operated his own business, Gerald A. Dean Concrete Contractor, for many years, where he was renowned as “the best of best”, earning the respect and trust of his many loyal customers throughout the years.

He married the love of his life, Georgetta Arter on October 25, 1958 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville. Together, they raised their two daughters in Jerseyville, and have shared in many wonderful memories throughout their 65 years of marriage. Family meant everything to Gerald, and he worked tirelessly to provide the best possible life for his wife and daughters, and relished in the memories shared with his grandchildren and great grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.

Following his retirement, Gerald and Georgetta built their home in rural Carrollton, where they have remained for the past 21 years. Gerald also took on a new hobby following his retirement: woodworking. Just as he had in everything else he pursued in life, he excelled at it. He made countless rocking horses for his grandchildren and nieces and nephews, shelving units, fair parade props and everything in between.

Surviving are his wife, Georgetta Dean of Carrollton; two daughters and sons in-law, Karen and Larry Goebel of Morrisonville and Marcia (Tom) Weinmann of Eldred; six grandchildren, Deanna (Jason) Mayer of Chatham, Robert (Erika) Goebel of Morrisonville, Mark (Cassie) Goebel of Morrisonville, Derek Weinmann of Eldred, Matthew (Erin) Weinmann of Carrollton and Sarah Weinmann of Carrollton; nine great grandchildren, Kason, Brock, Beau, Miles, Kenton, Walker, Kamyrn, Nora and Vayda; as well as two brothers and sisters in-law, Ronald and Connie Dean of Jerseyville and Robert and Debbie Dean of Jerseyville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Nora Russell and Otis and Sophie Gotway; a special aunt, Lucille Gotway; along with many other aunts and uncles.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until time of Funeral Services at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville with Deacon Patrick O’Toole officiating.

Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gerald Anthony Dean, please visit our floral store.