Dean Donald Emmerich

Dean Donald Emmerich, 61, of Montrose, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

A Celebration of Life in Dean’s honor will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn, 1301 Avenue of Mid America, Effingham.

Dean was born on Oct. 22, 1953, at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham. His parents are Donald and Jane (Weishaar) Emmerich. He grew up in the community of Island Grove and graduated in 1971 from Newton Community High School in Newton. In 1978, Dean was married to Kim Davidson for three years and together they had two daughters, Kelly and Kaci. In 1982, he married Loretta Brown and together they had one daughter, Amber. Dean was the manager of Emmerich Seed, Inc. of Wheeler, for a number of years while helping with the family farm. Dean was a kind person with a big heart. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and had a passion for his music. He had a great sense of humor and was a joy to be around.

Dean is survived by his wife, Loretta (Brown); his daughters, Kelly (Tracy) Ybarra of Murrieta, California, and Kaci (Joe) Mayo of San Juan Capistrano, California, and Amber Emmerich (significant other, Andy Utley) of Effingham; parents, Donald and Jane Emmerich of Effingham; two sisters, Karen (George) Paulsen of Oberlin, Ohio, and Patti (Tod) Britton of Effingham; sister-in-law, Pam Emmerich of Wheeler; nephews, Ryan Lawyer of Denver, Colorado, Keaton Emmerich of Effingham, and Kyle Britton of Effingham; nieces, Kristen (Brandon) Hedges of Oregon, Ohio, and Ashley Paulsen of Brady Lake, Ohio. Dean had seven grandchildren, Kaleb, Ella and Evan Ybarra, and Jacob, Josiah, Owen and Shiloh Mayo, all of California.

Dean was preceded in death by one brother, Lee; ex-wife, Kim; and grandparents, Leo and Catherine Weishaar and Wm. and Nora Emmerich.