Dean E. Plese Sr.

Dean E. Plese died peacefully at home on June 26, 2020 with his beloved wife and children by his side. He was born at the Plese Family farm on West River Road on January 22, 1937 to John and Margaret (Berta) Plese, the sixth of their seven children, educated in Wilmington area schools including the one-room Johnson Schoolhouse and St. Rose School before graduating from Braidwood High School in 1954. Upon graduation, Dean entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Regiment where he was selected to serve as a Presidential Honor Guard and proudly served President Eisenhower in Washington D.C. After his discharge from the armed forces, Dean married Judith Ann Benson on September 5, 1959 and together they made their home in Wilmington where they raised six children. During these years, Dean was active in many charitable causes particularly in support of St. Rose School and Parish including the Knights of Columbus where he achieved the designation of Fourth Degree Knight and was Grand Knight for two years. In 1984, Dean, his wife and their four youngest children moved East to New York State where they lived until the fall of 1999 when they returned to Wilmington. Dean retired from Clark Construction as a General Superintendent at the end of 2007 after which he kept himself busy maintaining the home he and Judy happily shared during their retirement years, traveling around the country and overseas and visiting family – especially their grandchildren whom he especially loved and adored – and spending time at their lakefront home in northern Minnesota. Survivor’s include Judy, his wife of 60 years, children Dean (Stacy), David (Angela), Martin (Maureen), Anthony (Gabriel), Eric (Christine) and Maria, 12 grandchildren and many other beloved family members including his four sisters, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Dean will be terribly missed by his family and friends. Heaven’s gain is truly our loss. A visitation will be held at R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 10 - 12pm. All attendees will be required to wear face masks and follow current social distancing standards. A private funeral mass will follow at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Wilmington where Dean and Judy were married, all their children were baptized and where they attended mass faithfully all the years of their shared life together. Private interment with full military honors will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kuzma Care Cottage or Joliet Area Community Hospice. For more information and to visit his online guestbook, please log on to www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com or find us on Facebook at R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory.

Dean E. Plese Sr.

January 22, 1937 - June 26, 2020

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Dean E. Plese Sr.

January 22, 1937 - June 26, 2020

What We Do

Local Florists

Contact Us

About Us

Plan Ahead

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Grief & Healing

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