Obituary of Sherry J. Dean

Sherry J. Dean, 87, longtime resident of Iowa City, died suddenly Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A time for family and friends to gather to remember Sherry will be held from 4 to 7 pm Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service.  Memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Wounded Warrior Project (P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS  66675-8516). To share a memory, thought or condolence with Sherry’s family please go to the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.

Sherry JoAnne Bruce was born October 4, 1930, in Des Moines, Iowa the daughter of Richard and Emil Bruce.  She attended schools in Des Moines, graduating from North High School.  She was united in marriage to Harry J. Dean on June 18, 1950, in Des Moines.  For many years she worked for the Iowa City Community School District as a secretary at Longfellow Elementary and Helen Lemme Elementary Schools. 

Sherry has been in Rainbow Girls in her youth and continued to support this organization as an adult serving as a state officer.  She was also a fifty year plus member of the P.E.O. Raising three sons with her husband, Harry, meant there was always activities for the boys, and she was always there supporting them in whatever they chose to do.  Sherry was also an avid knitter and enjoyed crocheting. Sharing many of her works with family and friends.  She and Harry retired from the school district and purchased an Airstream trailer.  This became their new home for a number of years, making layovers in McAllen, TX, and Surprise, AZ, before returning to Iowa City a number of years ago.

Her family includes her husband of 67 years, Harry; sister-in-law, Barb Homewood; three sons, Jeffery of Las Vegas, NV; Steve of Sunset, SC; and Doug and his wife, Debra of Blue Eye, MO; 7 grandchildren, Jeff Jr., Audra, Kenneth, Nicholas, Emily, Olivia and Alex; and 6 great-grandchildren, Noah, Logan, Lilly, Max, Emily Rose, and Matthew.