Dean Bryan, 69, of Neillsville, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at his home on Bryan Avenue. Dean A. Bryan was born July 28, 1939, in Black River Falls, the son of George and Leona (Broihier) Bryan. He attended Riverside Grade School in Levis Township, graduating May 22, 1953. He then attended two years at the Neillsville High School. He then moved to California and worked in the logging camps before enlisting into the U.S. Army on Feb. 19, 1959, where he obtained his general education degree. Dean was enlisted in the Army for three years, serving in Germany from July 1959 to August 1961. He was stationed in the 17th Infantry, A Battery, 3rd Howitzer Battalion. When he returned from Germany, he was stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma in the 1st Missile Battalion. After his discharge from active service, he served in the reserves until 1965. He met Gail D. Giloy and they were united in marriage Sept. 5, 1964, at the Assembly of God Church in Neillsville. A year later, they moved to Happy Camp, Calif., where their first child, Lisa was born. In 1966, they moved back to Neillsville and resided on Court Street for a few years. Later, they moved to a trailer home in the town of Levis, where the rest of their children were born. And eventually, they moved into their home on Highway 95 that Dean and his brothers built by hand.
Over the years, Dean worked for Overguard (a division of Mathy), Opelt Bros. and Millis Transport as a heavy equipment hauler. He retired from Overguard in 2001. Gail died July 7, 2001.
Dean was a member of the Assembly of God Church. He was a member of the NRA, the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post No. 73 in Neillsville and the Legion Honor Guard. He was a member of the Teamsters Local Union 695.
He enjoyed snowmobiling and was a member of the Happy Times Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club. He also enjoyed hunting, eating out and visiting with family.
He is survived by a son, Dean (Lisa) Bryan of Marshfield; four daughters, Lisa (Larry Nickel) Tilson of Marshfield, Lori Bixby of Neillsville, Beth Bryan of Greenwood, and Sara (Jason Errthum) Bryan of Hatfield; 10 grandchildren, Adam, Zachery and Chelsea Tilson, Abigail, Arielle, Ashley, Alexandra and Andrew Bixby, Meg Bryan and Isaac Bryan. He is further survived by his brothers and sisters, Viola (Vernon) Larson of Hudson, Susan (Donald) Guetschow of Beloit, Wayne (Mary) Bryan of Neillsville, Robert (Berta) Bryan of Neillsville, Judy Bryan of Augusta, Mass., Jeanie (Ronald) Yankee of Round Lake, Ill., Donald (Rose) Bryan of Neillsville, Dell (Joyce) Bryan of Glenrock, Wyo., Bonnie (Joe) Ferraro of Rockford, Ill., Joseph Bryan of Neillsville, and David (Betty) Bryan of Neillsville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail; his parents, George and Leona; and two brothers, George Jr. "Buzz" and John.
Funeral services for Dean will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Pastor Douglas Bjerke will officiate. Interment will be next to his wife in the Dells Dam Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. Honorary casket bearers are Kelly Bryan, Gary Guetschow, Mark Yankee and Stack Larson.
Casket bearers are Bob Bryan, Butch Bryan, Bruce Bryan, Larry Nickel, Jason Errthum and Bill "Pappy" Papenfuss.
The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Dean's family with funeral arrangements.