Elsie Dean
July 06, 2011
Elsie Dean, 80, died Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at home in Leon. She was born December 11, 1930 in Mountain Home, AR, to George and Mary Cowles.
Elsie is survived by her husband, Alvin; son, Stephen Dean of Leon, IA; Calvin Dean of Des Moines; five grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren; brother, Howard Cowles; and sister, Neva Anderson.
Funeral services will be10 a.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at Bethany Reformed Church, 720 NE 52nd Ave., with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Family will greet friends from time to 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Reformed Church in loving memory of Elsie Ann Dean.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Phil Ramsey
07/12/2011
We won't be able to make it down, but I want you guys to know that I have a lot of wonderful memories - thanks to your mom. Elsie was always behind the scene making sure we made it through - whatever the situation or circumstance -she had an answer. She was a good mom to a lot of us that didn't even belong to her. God has called another star player to His squad.
I am more and more mindful of how so many 'things' in life are just dust and rust, but our family and friends are the 'things' of eternity. I am glad to have been blessed in countless ways by Elsie's presence and a part of her eternal family.
Love,
"Farmer"
Terry & Deb McGilvra
07/10/2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. We are in Branson right now and will be unable to attend the services, but wanted to express our sympathy. In Christs love.
Sherry Stubbs Vanderploeg
07/09/2011
Elsie was my mother's mentor. She taught her how to give and take care of the flock at church. She taught her how to be a hostess. My Mom passed that on to me, and now I see my daughter, Shayla serving others in the church - making meals.
Elsie could have been given a lot of titles like wedding coordinator. She helped my Mom with her wedding. She was always in the church kitchen working with a big smile on her face. When I was a little girl, Elsie, Mickey Coffin, Jean Hinrichs and the ladies guild would make sunrise breakfast for Easter. Calvin, K.J. and I along with other children would have contests to see how many sausage links we could eat. There were always seconds, thirds and "plenty more" when Elsie was serving the food!
I also remember as a young girl,often stopping at Elsie and Alvin's back porch to find a treasure of home raised vegetables like corn and tomatoes. Mom and I would go over to the garden and eat them fresh right off the vine! Elsie kept the standard high when it came to fixing her garden food. I remember Dad telling Mom that Elsie peeled her tomatoes and so she should start doing that too. I can't imagine what my life would have been, had Elsie not mentored my Mom. I even heard a story that Dad once lost his drivers license and Elsie and Alvin had to pick them up to get to church. Almost every childhood church memory I have has Elsie in it. She was servant like no other and her legacy lives on in my family.