Dean W. Schmeling
December 24, 1940 - September 11, 2019

Dean Walter Schmeling age 78
Of Fremont, formerly of Elkhorn
Died Wednesday September 11, 2019 at his home.

Dean was born on December 24, 1940 in Emmetsburg, Iowa to Harry and Marie Schmeling and was raised in Whittemore, Iowa. Dean was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, graduated from Whittemore High School and immediately went to work for Rogers Anderson Trucking in Des Moines, Iowa. To be closer to his mom after the death of his dad, Dean went to work for the City of Whittemore "climbing poles" as a city electrician. Dean left Whittemore in 1963 to continue work as an electrician for E. A. Pedersen Company. He met and married Judith Dee Harbaugh in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1964. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, as an Electronics Computer Repairman. Upon completion of Air Force service, he moved his family to Elkhorn, Nebraska in 1968. Dean worked as a Field Engineer for the Burroughs Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska which later merged with Sperry Corporation to form Unisys, from which he retired after 40 years. Dean was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, where he served on the Church Council, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. Dean and Judy retired to Fremont, Ne. Retirement brought them to Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont, where they became active members.
Dean was a master handyman and was truly blessed with the ability to build, re-build, fix, or maintain anything he set his mind to. He could often be found puttsing around in the garage or working in the garden in his free time. Dean loved tinkering, gardening, and bird watching, but most of all Dean loved spending time with his family. Fourth of July fireworks and a smoked Thanksgiving turkey were family favorites.
Dean is preceded in death by his parents Harry and Marie Schmeling, his wife Judy (2011), his brother Wilfred, his sister and brother-in-law Harriet and Dean Meyer and his brother and sister-in-law Carroll and Elaine Schmeling.

To remember and cherish his memory are his five children: Lorraine Kay Morrical and husband Rod Morrical (Malvern, IA), Tyrae Ann Brown and husband Ray Brown (Rice Lake, WI), Wendy Dee McGrath and Husband Howard McGrath (California, MD), Mike Eugene Thille (Sioux Falls, SD), DeAnn Rene Johnson (Salt Lake, UT). Fourteen grandchildren: Laurence Thille, Jamie Lynn Giersdorf, Shane Sacco, Andrew Sacco, Holli O'Keefe, Heather Price, Nathan Brown, David Viger, Dean Viger, Cory McGrath, Maricris Pelley, Michelle Thille, Luke Socha and Austin Johnson. And twenty great grandchildren: Eshiah O'Neil, Patrick Thille, Brandon Asa, Alexis Sacco, Lincoln O'Keefe, Shea O'Keefe, Timothy O'Keefe, Peter O'Keefe, Hannah Price, Beniaha Price, Hudson Price, Asa Brown, Maddox Brown, Kayla Viger, David Viger III, Leah Viger, Natalie Viger, Emma McGrath, Marlow Thille and Magnolia Thille. Also surviving brother Alvin Schmeling (Lincoln, NE), sister Marilyn Chapman (Laughlin, NV), brother and sister-in-law Craig and Judy Schmeling (Laughlin, NV).

The funeral will be Monday, Sept 16, 2019 at 10:00 am at Peace Lutheran Church (1/2 mile east of Hwy 275 & Hwy 30 interchange and ¼ south of Hwy 30.) The Rev Shari Schwedhelm will officiate. The committal will be at 12:30pm on Monday at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn with Military Honors by the Fremont Honor Guard (VFW Post 854 & American Legion Post 20). Visitation will be Sunday from 2pm to 6pm with the family receiving friends from 3pm to 6pm at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont.

Donations may be sent to Methodist Fremont Health Hospice 2400 North Lincoln, Suite B Fremont, NE 68025

Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com