Dean E. Adkins

Dean Elton Adkins, son of Roy "Orval" Adkins and Thelma Kinney Adkins, was born March 27, 1933 on a farm near Cooper, Iowa, and died April 5, 2011 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, at the age of 78. Dean started school in Cooper and transferred to rural country school near Farlin, and to the Jefferson schools in 7th grade. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1951. On October 19, 1952, Dean married his high school sweetheart, Janice Lee, at the First Baptist Church by Pastor Thomas Reese. They were blessed with 58 years of marriage. Dean and Janice were parents of five children, Mark, Murray, Joni, Cris, and Valerie. Dean volunteered with the U.S. Army and was inducted January 13, 1953. He saw duty in Korea, earning the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Dean was honorably discharged December 23, 1954 and returned home on Christmas Eve. Dean enjoyed his life of farming, where his family worked and played along side of him. He semi-retired in 1997 after 43 years of active farming. His family was always his special love and Dean could be found with Janice at all of their activities. He especially enjoyed their sporting events. Iowa State sports were a highlight, as well as fishing with his family and very special friends. Dean enjoyed playing his organ, flying his plane, playing cards and games, and traveling. For several years Dean and Janice wintered in Arizona. He had taken his family on fishing trips and he got to enjoy yearly fishing trips to Canada. As a couple, Dean and Janice had traveled to Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Alaska, and Newfoundland. Dean had been a very active member of First Baptist Church in Jefferson where he served as an Elder for many years as well as serving in anywhere he was needed. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Guthrie Center. Dean was preceded by his parents, brother Merle Adkins, son Murray and grandson Devin Adkins. He will be lovingly missed by his wife Janice; children Mark and wife Anita of Ames; Joni Marling and husband Brad of Marion; Cris Adkins and wife Jacquie of Bagley; Valerie and friend Kelly Cox of Bagley; grandchildren Abbey and Austin Adkins; Craig, Melanie, and Grant Adkins; brother Vern Adkins and wife Ann of Bayard; sister-in-law Betty Adkins of Wichita Falls, TX ; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Dean Elton Adkins BORN March 27, 1933~ Cooper, Iowa DIED April 5, 2011 ~ Jefferson, Iowa AGE 78 Years, 0 Months, 9 Days SERVICE 10:00 Saturday, April 9, 2011 First Baptist Church Jefferson,Iowa WORDS OF COMFORT BY Pastor Robert McKnight First Baptist Church ~ Jefferson, Iowa VISITATION 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Family will be there 5:00-8:00 pm Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson CASKET BEARERS Dennis Bryan Craig Adkins Austin Adkins Grant Adkins Dick St.Clair Lloyd Dagit HONORARY BEARERS Wayne Ankeraer Vern Bauer Glenn Carstensen Wayne Hoskins Larry Dagit Frank Dagit Leo "Swede" Davis Don Benson ACCOMPANIST Karol Long SOLOIST Kenny Monthei HYMNS Something Beautiful There's Just Something Beautiful About That Name CONGREGATIONAL SINGING How Great Thou Art INTERMENT Franklin Township Cemetery Cooper, Iowa In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorials to First Baptist Church or Iowa Hospice.