Dean Spears, 87, of Ottawa, IL, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, April 11th. Funeral Services are at 6 pm. Thursday, April 18, at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Robert Housby officiating. Visitation will begin at 4pm, prior to the service, with burial in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date, after cremation.
Dean was born January 5, 1932, in Kinsman, IL, to William and Loretta (Wright) Spears. He grew up in Streator, and played football for the Streator High School Bulldogs. He raised his family in Ottawa, retired from L.O.F. glass company in 1985, and made many friends over the years as a popular bartender at many local establishments, including proprietorship of ‘Deno’s’, just west of Ottawa, with his wife, Shirley,
An avid league bowler and card player, we’ll never forget his hearty “UNO!”, and enthusiastic self-congratulations after executing a successful “loner” in Euchre! Not widely known, Dean was Ottawa’s most faithful Clearing House Sweepstakes participant. He was an avid Chicago White Sox fan. He enjoyed playing the lottery and although he never hit “the big one”, he was a slugger to his family, with many home-runs to his credit.
He is survived by one sister, Pauline Mroczek of Streator, IL; two sons, Gary Spears (Josephine) of Streator and Jones Norman (Riccardo) of Campton Hills, IL; three daughters, Sheila Riley of Tovey, IL, Kristi Spears of Jefferson City, MO, Toni Ingram (Chris) of Whitsett, NC; three step-daughters, Janet Brown (Larry) of Fairbury, IL, Cherri Snell and Linda Mennie of Ottawa, IL, and two step-sons, David Mennie and Danny Mennie of Ottawa, IL; and was surrounded by loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Shirley, and three siblings; Lillian, Eugene, and Eileen.
He was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.
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