Dean Francis Heartwell, 79, of Fairgrove, MI went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. He passed peacefully at home at 79 years old. Dean was born to the late Frank and Mary (McAlpine) Heartwell on March 24, 1945, in Bay City. He married the love of his life, Dorothy (Spiekerman), on October 2, 1971, at Christ Lutheran in Reese.
Dean grew up in Akron, delivering newspapers and selling nightcrawlers and rabbits as a young man to help support his family. He began work at the General Motors Saginaw Grey Iron Foundry in Saginaw on January 2, 1964, and retiring in June 2001after 37 years. Dean was a proud member of UAW local 668. He was a past President of the Fairgrove Lions club. Dean overcame an alcohol addiction and would council others with the hope that they could overcome this addiction as well. Dean had a huge heart and loved people. When his mother, Mary, was in a nursing home, he would work 10 hours per day in Saginaw and drive to Cass City to see her every day. When his wife, Dorothy, went into a physical rehab facility he went to see her every single day. Even with the mobility challenges that Dean and Dorothy encountered they continued to travel, attend events and enjoy life until the very end. Dean was a genuine, giving soul and a great role model for how to really care for people. He was a positive influence on all who met him. He tried to show people the way to the Lord though his daily interactions with them. Dean was lighthearted, fun and had a colorful phrase for everything. He was an avid reader, reading multiple newspapers every day and several magazines, on topics from cars and tractors to hunting dogs. Dean enjoyed watching Jeopardy every night and encouraging players to “Bet your knot!” for every Daily Double and Final Jeopardy.
Dean loved General Motors trucks and tractors. He owned a 1966 GMC, 4 different Square Body trucks (including the first year and last year of that body style), a 1993 Chevrolet and his final truck, and pride and joy, a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. Dean loved to drive his 1947 John Deere B in the Michigan Bean Festival parade and then host the annual Labor Day party for family and friends at his house, an event he held for 52 years. Dean and Dorothy loved to travel, their favorite vacation spots were Nashville, Tennessee and Mackinaw City, Michigan where Dean would walk to the beach each night to “put the Mackinac Bridge to bed.” Dean could remember every restaurant they ate at, from Las Vegas to Florida to Maine, and what everyone at the table ordered for their meal. Dean also enjoyed hunting, especially pheasants. His passion was truck and tractor pulling. Dean and Dorothy followed the NTPA Grand National circuit, the highest level of truck and tractor pulling, throughout the United States and Canada. They made lifelong friends from across the country through this motorsport that they kept in close contact with until they passed. This was a family activity and Dean and Dorothy passed this passion down to their son.
Surviving Dean are his son, Darren (Alicia) Heartwell of Vassar, many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and life long loving neighbors, all of whom were always there for him. He would also like to thank all of the medical staff that assisted him in recent years. He appreciated their professionalism and caring and built long term relationships with them.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary, an infant sister, Maxine, and his wife of 46 years, Dorothy.
Funeral Services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from the Christ Lutheran Church in Reese. Rev. Mark Gerisch will officiate with Committal Services to follow in the Brookside Cemetery in Fairgrove. Dean’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 9940 Saginaw St. in Reese on Monday from 3-7 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the services. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Christ Lutheran Church in Reese or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Purchase a coat for a child in need.
All of us at Ware Smith Woolever are honored the Heartwell family has entrusted us with the care of their loved one. Condolences to the family may be made at wswfh.com.
Notification Published by Ware Smith Woolever FH - Reese
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