Dean Arthur Dawson, 63, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away with his wife by his side on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at Stormont-Vail Heath Center in Topeka. He was a long-time resident of the community.
Dean was born October 25, 1955 in Sarpy City, Nebraska while his father Harry and Mary (Query) Dawson were stationed at Offutt AFB.
Dean graduated from Wamego High School in 1973 and relocated to California before moving back to Wamego in 1986.
While in California Dean met and married his first wife Dorothea Holden and they had two daughters Trinity and Trisha. They were later divorced. In 1988 Dean met his best friend who later became his wife Diane Blankley. They were married on June 10, 1995 in South Lake Tahoe. Together they built a home for future grandchildren to enjoy. Diane survives at their home.
Dean went back to school at Highland Community College and then Kansas State University and finished his degree in 1992 in Park Management Resources, following his love for the outdoors.
Dean held many careers including positions with CalTrans in California, management with Western Auto in Wamego, and territory sales manager with Mid West Engine Warehouse before he had to retire due to medical issues.
Dean and Diane enjoyed traveling to spend time with their grandchildren in Olathe and California. They loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Yellowstone, The Black Hills, Grand Canyon, Cruise to Mexico and Belize, and Arches National Park. Dean’s hobbies included projects around the house which included building several decks, tinkering with gadgets, and spending time with his family, including his fur babies. He was a proud member of the NRA and an avid coin collector.
He is also survived by his two daughters, Trinity Counts (Jeff) of Yuba City, California and Trisha Bulger (Jake) of Olathe; eight grandchildren, Corey Counts (Hayleigh), Katelyn Counts, Ava Bulger, Jaxon Counts, Anna Counts, Wyatt Bulger, Hadley Jo Bulger, and Eleanor Bulger; his three siblings Mark Dawson (Sherri), Wichita, Kay Grunewald (Dennis), Wamego and Kenneth Dawson (Jeanette), Caliente, California; several nieces and nephews; his beloved pets, Splash and Miss T. and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Mary.
Funeral services ill be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 19, 2019 at Campanella Evans Mortuary in Wamego. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 20, 2019 at the Wamego City Cemetery. Dean will lie-in-state on Friday, beginning at 3:00 p.m. and the family will greet friends from 5:30 p.m. until service time. They suggest memorial contributions to Stormont-Vail for a family room or Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center, and those may be sent in care of the mortuary.