Dean Martin
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Dean began life 2/20/1933 on a farm in Kimeo, KS. He was the 6th born of 7 children. Dean and his family moved to Kansas City, MO when he was 10 years old, where he lived until 1965. Dean’s early education was at Holy Cross Catholic School. In 1950 he graduated from Glennon High School where he made many lifelong friends and met his high school sweetheart, Dolores Ragan. At a young age he worked at the local drug store as a soda jerk & pharmacy delivery boy. After high school, Dean worked several years for Braniff Airlines at the Kansas City Municipal Airport as a baggage handler and ticket agent. He went on to become a skilled Air Traffic Controller and was committed to this profession for 30 years. Dean’s passion was aerospace & aviation. As an Aviator, he held a private pilot’s license his entire adult life. He flew small aircraft for pleasure and travel any chance he could. He shared his love of flying with family and friends, providing extra thrills for anyone who was game! Dean also found thrilling enjoyment with the sport of snow skiing & would take frequent trips with his pals to Colorado. He was also a great spectator of almost any sport. Of course, the Kansas City Chiefs had a huge fan in Dean Martin!!
Dean & Dolores were married in 1952 and began a family that soon grew to 7 children! In 1965 the Martin clan relocated when Dean was transferred from the air traffic center in Olathe, KS to one in Aurora, IL which handled much of the air traffic in/out of O’Hare International Airport. In the New Year of 1973 the Martins moved to nearby Batavia, IL. Dean and a small crew spent the previous summer building a big house for the family to grow, play freely, welcome visitors, host many parties & family celebrations & holidays, it was the “go to” house in the neighborhood. To earn extra $$ Dean operated a fruit/candy/snack vending service with most of his machines being in local high schools where he earned the nick name “the candy man”. He was one hard working man. Family summer vacations were spent in KC and boating/ water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. In the 1970’s D&D would occasionally ditch the kids and vacation in the hot spot of Las Vegas Nevada. VIVA!
When Dean (& Dolores) retired, they sold the big house and traveled around the USA, stopping to visit family & friends along the way. After wandering and being homeless for 9 months, they settled in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas for a couple years. They were avid golfers and HSV provided an ideal environment for them to enjoy the sport. Dean being an avid snow skier they also enjoyed spending extended winter time in Colorado where 3 of their children lived. In 1992 they returned to Kansas City to assist in caring for Dolores’ mother who moved in with them for a while. They found opportunity to break away from cold mid-west winters to spend time in SW Florida, soaking up sunshine, beach & golf. For many years they continued to split their time between their 2 homes in KC & Bonita Springs FL. They enjoyed each other’s company, cared for each other deeply and celebrated 68 years of marriage!!
Dean will be remembered as a genuine, brave, smart, sweet, kind, generous, loving, friendly, funny guy! His humor, jokes, sarcasm and incessant teasing were his trademark. Dean was a skilled handyman, auto mechanic, landscaper, story teller and master of his grill. He was a great dancer too! So very handsome with a smile as big as the world is round & the bluest eyes (watch out for the twinkle & shift, something’s about to happen). He never met a stranger with his natural ability to make friends with more people than can be counted. He was really fun to be with and wanted to make everybody happy! He was the Best Husband, Dad, brother, uncle, grandpa, provider, protector and teacher. Dean was a devout Catholic who practiced his belief, through his actions, daily. Everyone was better in his presence! He was never too shy to belt out a song by the famous crooner who shared his name. How lucky can one guy be to be blessed with a long, happy, mostly healthy, abundant life?!
Dean, Deano, Dad, Pops, Papa Dean, will be missed by many but especially his loving wife Dolores, 7 children, 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is the wind beneath our wings. He hoped, (like Sinatra) that The Best is Yet to Come. Fly high and free with your new wings, you’ve earned them!! We will miss you forever, we’ll never forget you, you will live on in our hearts always. It’ s been an honor and the pleasure was all ours. We love you, pleasant dreams!
Dean will be offered in prayer (on his birthday) Sat. 2/20/21 during the 4:30 p.m. mass at St. Marks, in KC, MO. It can be viewed live or recorded on their YouTube channel, http://www.
A memorial service for Dean will be determined at a later time. Feel free to leave a comment, share a memory or story here. Much Love and Thanks.
Here are the comments that were submitted on the Legacy page which is temporary and that I have reposted (permanently) as one entry here. Unfortunately was not able to copy any photos from the other entries. Thanks, we Love to see the stories and memories about Dean.
Janet Martin
My condolences to your family. I was an Air Traffic colleague of Dean’s for many years at Chicago Center. I was also a first-time aircraft owner/partner (Bonanza N9519Y) with him in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Sad to hear of his passing. May he rest in peace.
Kent D Nicholson
February 18, 2021
Like most of the grandkids i loved going to grandma and pops house. It didnt matter if it was Kansas City or Illinois they always had something to do. I can remember as a little kid riding with pops on the vending machine routes or feeding horses apples in the field across the street. As a child i used to love heavy machinery and pops knew that so one day he asked the columbine operator if i could ride around with him as he did the fields. I can also thank him for my ability to drive a car as he would take us to construction sites and allow us to drive that old green mustang. I have so many memories of the loving, patient, and kind hearted man I called my grandpa. Love and miss you pops!!!
Peter Carson Family
February 17, 2021
Your dad took me on my first airplane ride . We went to Missouri to pick up Coors beer. You couldn´t get Coors beer in Illinois back then but the air traffic controllers loved it. On our way Dean spotted oil on the front of the plane we made a emergency landing in a little town called Earlville. I ended up living in Earlville and raised my kids there. He gave me the biggest thrill of my life that day! Much love to all of you! Dean you will be missed!
Jennifer Nanzer
February 17, 2021
I was shoveling snow today and thought of my dad. He used to say that when he retired he was going to tie a snow shovel to the top of his car and drive south. Wherever someone asked him what he had tied to the roof of his car, that was where he was going to live.
Phil Martin
February 17, 2021
So sorry to hear about Dean. We had group that got together and not too many of them left. Dean and I lost a lot of friends in FAA. Again so sorry for loss and was thankful for knowing him. All the best to family.
Erv and Jill Schultz
Friend
February 17, 2021
I´ll always remember going to Grandma and Pop´s house as a kid. We couldn´t wait to get there and never wanted to leave. That feeling has stuck with me my whole life. Even as an adult their house was/is the best! Tractor and mustang rides, listening to Grandpa´s stories and jokes, amusement parks and baseball games, coming back from a run or bike ride and hearing his soft rock music on in the garage with him standing over his work bench. He never could sit still. Even as he got older. It didn´t matter whether they were in KC or Florida. It always felt like home just to be somewhere with them. I will miss him always and feel lucky to have gotten to spend so much time with him.
Laura Carson
February 17, 2021
It´s amazing to me how much I remember All the love that you had to render A love that´s so tender, a love that´s so real Is love that I hope my own children will feel So with each passing day I pray I might be A daddy to them as you were to me
Phil Martin
February 16, 2021
Every time I use a vending machine I think of Dean, especially when it´s a healthy one. I´ve never known anyone else in the trade. And like a good snack, visiting with Dean was always pretty satisfying. He was just a great guy! I´m sad to see him go.
Tom Carson
February 16, 2021
Offering my deepest condolences to the family, may our God grant you strength and courage as you face the coming days. Ps.94:19
Neighbor
February 16, 2021
Being a friend of Karen´s meant you could be part of the Martin gatherings. And if that was the case you were very fortunate. I always felt like I was with my own family when I was with them. Dean and Delores made us one of their own. So sad for I know you will miss him. I feel so blessed to have known him and that my husband was able to as well.
Jo Marsh Rickert
February 16, 2021
My thoughts and prayers are with you Delores and the family. I´m sure Gary greeted Uncle Dean at the Gates of Heaven. Love and hugs to you all
Mary Werner
February 15, 2021
Dean represents the best of friends and neighbors we have ever been blessed with. We pray now for God’s comfort for Delores and family.
Len & Shirley
February 15, 2021
May God be with you and your family in this time of sadness.
Frank and Judy Bleyenberg
February 15, 2021
Deepest condolences to Dolores, Patty , Janet and the entire Martin family. I loved talking airline stories with him – and will never forget when he joined the girls singing that song at my wedding reception . He truly never met a stranger . I feel blessed to have had him in my life . He will be missed by many .
Tricia Kubisiak and family
February 14, 2021
We are very saddened. We have many great memories of flying with Dean, especially in the Bonanza. When we decided to move from our home in Aurora to a townhome in Geneva, Dean was driving down our street and saw the for sale sign. He stopped and asked us if we needed help moving. He helped us move without us even asking. Such a good guy. Our thoughts are with Dolores and their family.
Lee and Lynne Reilly
February 14, 2021
Martin families, you have my sympathy. I always enjoyed being around Dean both at Kansas City and Aurora. When news of his passing reached our controllers breakfast a good amount of time was devoted to recalling stories of personal experiences with Dean. I know the world was better with his presence.
Neil Baird
February 13, 2021
Deloris, May you find comfort knowing family and friends support and care for you so deeply. Many happy memories I have acquired from your family, especially in Aurora, Il. Gayla, Robby and I send you much comfort, love and understanding during this time of grief.
Mary Everhart – formerly Mary (Werner)
February 12, 2021
My deepest condolences I send to those who were very close to him. Every time I saw him in person I left a better person because I was in his presence. He is a great man and will be deeply missed.
Robby Werner
February 12, 2021
I am friends with the youngest son John. I will always remember Deano telling John before he and Delores went on a trip, “Ya know, your brothers and sisters have done it all. We aren’t to surprised by much. You’re mom and I are going on a trip and we trust you not to burn the house down. Other than that, we’ll see you in a week. There should be enough food in the fridge”
Other memories are of him bringing a plane-load of Coors and the party’s that would form out on Nelson Lake. Us kids playing baseball, Deano grilling, and lots of laughs. Oh yeah, also I didn’t eat snickers for years after all the ones I ate from the vending business stash down in the basement.
Thank you for the memories
My Uncle Dean was the man of all men. This amazing bio is only the tip of what he accomplished. He was a caring and sincere person that we will greatly miss. Heaven gained one of the greatest and I can only imagine all the jokes he told when he arrived. Our hearts are broken but our memories will remain, especially that beautiful smile and bright blue eyes. Thank you Uncle Dean for all you did for our family. You were the rock, the go-to-guy, the one we admired most. Uncle Dean worked hard for his family and his work ethic was one of a kind. I will be looking up for the next fly over. You earned your wings. ‘Everybody loves somebody sometime’, but we loved you all the time! Rest In Peace Uncle Dean. Hugs. Hugs. Xxxo ??
I´m very sorry to hear about Deano. My condolences for the entire Martin family, he was such a great guy and I have many fond memories of him. I used to love riding the Paradise chair lift with him where he would tell me stories and offer skiing tips that I still use today. He always made me feel like I was part of the family. When I was going to college in Colorado I came home for a long weekend to visit my girlfriend at the time, I needed to get to Champaign to meet my ride back. Deano decided to fly me there! That was the kind of guy he was, so kind and generous.
Joel Peterson
February 20, 2021
This is the obituary printed at the Kansas City Star.
Dean T. Martin
February 20, 1933 – February 9, 2021
Kansas City, Missouri – Dean Thomas Martin, 87, Kansas City, MO passed away February 9, 2021 at home. Dean was born February 20, 1933 in Kimeo, KS and when he was 10 his family relocated to Kansas City. Dean worked for Braniff Airlines and the FAA and was an Air Traffic Controller for over 30 years in Olathe and later in the Chicago area. He loved flying and held a private pilots license throughout his entire life. Dean enjoyed spending his winters golfing in Florida and skiing in Colorado. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and 6 siblings. Survivors include; beloved wife of 68 years, Dolores Martin; children, Karen Carson (Jeff), Thomas Martin (Mary), Janet Martin, Phillip Martin (Laura), Michael Martin, Patricia Pike (Jeff), John Martin (Wanda); 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
I am so lucky and honored to be named after Papa Dean! I loved telling everyone a simple way to remember my name and pronounce it correctly was that I was named after Dean Martin! I explained that my grandfather is Dean Martin?? One of my favorite memories with Papa Dean was going to amusement parks in the summer (such as six flags or worlds of fun) although the rides were never enough to amuse Papa Dean! He would say to me “You think that’s fun? I can do better than that!” Being that he was a pilot, he would take us on airplane rides and do maneuvers I’m not sure our parents would have approved of or knew about but they are the memories that are one of a kind and I will cherish forever. The thrill of a lifetime! I remember Papa Dean would pick us up at the Norfolk, NE airport and fly us back to Kansas City for visits. No need for car rides when your a pilot! We thought the world of this man! He was the coolest grandpa! I remember the Milky Way bars and 3 musketeer candy bars we got to pick out when he had his vending machines, driving the riding lawn mower all over the neighborhood, putting the petal to the metal in the mustang, and always being told the hot water is turned off (which of course it never was!) I may have had a hate/love relationship with his jokes and sense of humor growing up, but now that is the one thing I will miss the most. Papa Dean was a very involved grandpa and gave us all so much of his time. We have learned so much from him. “No amount of money can buy back time” but if it could I’d give you one more hug and let you tease me just to see if I could come up with something just as witty as you Papa Dean! I love you so much. You will forever be in our hearts ??
Remembering the fun times we had in Florida; enjoying playing Wizard; always
Amazed at the stories Dean told;
Every steak he cooked was delicious;
and I will always think of his ordering
“Crisp” bacon and fries when I order
them. Dean was a close friend that I
will remember acquiring later in life.
AND I will be remembering him for
Eternity!
What a great friend and neighbor. I will always remember enjoying a cold Old Style with Dean and the other neighbor guys on the block. Those were good times and we have Dean to thank for them. God Bless!