Dean Frederick Gray
December 9, 1920 — June 19, 2017
Dean Frederick Gray, son of Channing Leroy and Laura Alineda (Fites) Gray, was born on December 9, 1920 in Glenmont, Ohio. Dean was baptized into the Methodist faith while in Glenmont. At a young age, Dean and his family moved to a farm near Ashland, Nebraska and this is where he was raised. He attended country school outside of Ashland and later graduated from Ashland High School with the class of a 1939. He was active in sports while in high school and could have attended college at the University of Nebraska to play football but chose to remain at home and help on the family farm.
On August 6, 1942, Dean enlisted into the United States Army Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska. He was later assigned to the 730th Signal Aircraft Warning Company where he worked with air craft radar and radio systems. He then was stationed in India towards the end of World War II where his unit was preparing for the invasion of Japan. The war soon after ended with the surrender of Japan and the invasion was not needed. Dean always said his faith in God brought him home safe from the service when he was granted his honorable discharge at Ft. Douglas in Utah.
After his discharge, Dean made his home for a short time in California where he picked up the trade of concrete construction. His family in Ashland sold the family farm and Dean decided to move back to the Midwest, this time buying a farm with his brother Zane outside of Deloit, Iowa where they farmed together for a few years. He also worked part time at the local bar for extra cash and this is where his future bride brought him meals from the local café where she worked.
On May 18, 1957, Dean was united in marriage to Gloria Mae Hebert and thus his family began as he adopted her son David. Together they were blessed with four more children when they added Denise, Debra, Delores and Channing.
Dean then decided to return back to the concrete block business and started Gray Construction. He then purchased and remodeled the Otter Creek Township Country School which was located on their family farm. He and his brother then sold the rest of the family farm. He operated his business until his retirement in 1985 and he continued working part time for many more years. He still lived at home on the family farm until 2017.
Dean was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on December 25, 1963 at Faith Lutheran Church in Deloit, Iowa where he was a member until his death. He served the church for many years in various offices including usher, financial secretary and Elder. He spent countless hours doing various expansion projects and used his masonry skills to lay stone accents on the church building as well as the welcome sign in front of the church.
His faith was very important to him and he read the Bible many times and often quoted it in times of need for himself or his family. He passed his faith on to his children and grandchildren teaching them that faith in the Lord and His word would always bring them comfort in times of need.
In May of 2017, Dean became a resident of the Fonda Care Center in Fonda, Iowa and this is where he died on June 19,2017 having attained the age of ninety-six years, six months and ten days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Alton Gray, Thelma Gray, Woodrow Gray, Juanita (Pat) Hangartner, Lillian (Peg) Kalvik and Zane Gray.
Dean is survived by his wife of sixty years, Gloria Mae Gray of Deloit, Iowa; his children: David Eugene Gray and his wife Cindy of Deloit, Denise Mae and her husband Robert Schleis of Wall Lake, Iowa, Debra Kay Griffen of Kiron, Iowa, Delores Ann and her husband Allen Ryan of Correctionville, Iowa and Channing Edward Gray and his wife Lisa of Deloit; 13 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren plus one on the way; sister-in-law Harriet Gray; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
On August 6, 1942, Dean enlisted into the United States Army Air Force in Omaha, Nebraska. He was later assigned to the 730th Signal Aircraft Warning Company where he worked with air craft radar and radio systems. He then was stationed in India towards the end of World War II where his unit was preparing for the invasion of Japan. The war soon after ended with the surrender of Japan and the invasion was not needed. Dean always said his faith in God brought him home safe from the service when he was granted his honorable discharge at Ft. Douglas in Utah.
After his discharge, Dean made his home for a short time in California where he picked up the trade of concrete construction. His family in Ashland sold the family farm and Dean decided to move back to the Midwest, this time buying a farm with his brother Zane outside of Deloit, Iowa where they farmed together for a few years. He also worked part time at the local bar for extra cash and this is where his future bride brought him meals from the local café where she worked.
On May 18, 1957, Dean was united in marriage to Gloria Mae Hebert and thus his family began as he adopted her son David. Together they were blessed with four more children when they added Denise, Debra, Delores and Channing.
Dean then decided to return back to the concrete block business and started Gray Construction. He then purchased and remodeled the Otter Creek Township Country School which was located on their family farm. He and his brother then sold the rest of the family farm. He operated his business until his retirement in 1985 and he continued working part time for many more years. He still lived at home on the family farm until 2017.
Dean was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on December 25, 1963 at Faith Lutheran Church in Deloit, Iowa where he was a member until his death. He served the church for many years in various offices including usher, financial secretary and Elder. He spent countless hours doing various expansion projects and used his masonry skills to lay stone accents on the church building as well as the welcome sign in front of the church.
His faith was very important to him and he read the Bible many times and often quoted it in times of need for himself or his family. He passed his faith on to his children and grandchildren teaching them that faith in the Lord and His word would always bring them comfort in times of need.
In May of 2017, Dean became a resident of the Fonda Care Center in Fonda, Iowa and this is where he died on June 19,2017 having attained the age of ninety-six years, six months and ten days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Alton Gray, Thelma Gray, Woodrow Gray, Juanita (Pat) Hangartner, Lillian (Peg) Kalvik and Zane Gray.
Dean is survived by his wife of sixty years, Gloria Mae Gray of Deloit, Iowa; his children: David Eugene Gray and his wife Cindy of Deloit, Denise Mae and her husband Robert Schleis of Wall Lake, Iowa, Debra Kay Griffen of Kiron, Iowa, Delores Ann and her husband Allen Ryan of Correctionville, Iowa and Channing Edward Gray and his wife Lisa of Deloit; 13 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren plus one on the way; sister-in-law Harriet Gray; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
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