Dean Gawith

Dean L. Gawith, son of Joseph Roy and Letha Crawford Gawith, was born December 31, 1930, in Bennington, Kansas, and departed life on December 13, 2018, at Citizen’s Medical Center in Colby, Kansas, surrounded by family.

Dean was raised in Minneapolis, Kansas, until 1943 when the family moved to Sharon Springs where he graduated from high school in 1949. Prior to entering the Air Force, Dean worked with his father, at the lumber yard, as a mechanic for Cecil Van Allen at John Deere in Sharon Springs, and as a section hand on the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1950, Dean’s mother aided his buddies in enlisting him in the military. Dean served 22 months in Japan as an airplane mechanic for the Air Force during the Korean War. At the time, Dean thought four years was an eternity, later he stated it went by fast.

After an honorable discharge, Dean returned to Sharon Springs to work for Cecil Van Allen and later was employed as a parts man at International Harvester Company in Goodland. In the fall of 1955, Dean met Dalene Sewell, a local teacher. The couple was married at the Dresden Methodist Church December 30, 1957. Dean and Dalene began their married life in Goodland, moved to the Dresden area in 1960 where he engaged in farming. They were blessed with three children: William “Bill,” Donna, and Jeanette. In 1972, Dean became the postmaster in Dresden, Kansas. He retired in 1999, which allowed more time to spend with his grandchildren, hone his woodworking skills, serve as treasurer for the Jennings Czech Museum board, drink iced tea, and watch sports. He especially liked K-State football and KU basketball. In 2015 they moved to Colby to be closer to family.

Dean was a kind, giving, and loving person, who always had time for others, especially family. He had a quick and witty answer to any situation, even at Prairie Senior Living Complex, where he enjoyed joking with the staff.

Dean was a member of the American Legion of Jennings, the National Association of Postmasters, the Sharon Springs VFW, and Masonic Lodge of Sharon Springs. Dean was always proud that his dad was able to perform his work when he joined the Masonic Lodge in Sharon Springs. On April 28, 2018, he was presented with a 60-year pin for his membership in the Masonic Lodge.

He leaves to mourn his passing, wife Dalene of the home; son Bill (Kris), La Crosse; Donna (Freddie) Lamm, Colby; and Jeanette (Dan) Bosch, Manhattan; brother Mike (Bernita) Gawith, Oberlin; sisters Betty Morin, and Phyllis (Delgar) Finley, Sharon Springs; Delores Kafka, Yankton, S.D.; and Carolyn (John) Gittinger, Odessa, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Bradley (Wendy) Gawith; Elaine, Henry, Rachel and Sarah Lamm; and Jean (Michael Nies), Kate, and Lynette Bosch; three great-grandchildren, Thomas and Kegan Gawith, and Miriam Nies, and many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister LaDonna, brother Richard “Dick” and sister-in-law Margaret Gawith, brothers-in-law Vic Morin and Bill Kafka.

Visitation will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018 at Baalmann Mortuary, 190 S. Franklin Avenue, Colby. Funeral services will at the Dresden Church Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. with burial to follow in the Dresden Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Jennings Czech Museum and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For Condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com