Obituary of Harry J Dean Jr.

Harry J. Dean Jr., age 88, longtime area educator and coach died Sunday, August 26, 2018, at the Crestview Care Center in West Branch.

A gathering for family and friends to celebrate Harry's life will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from 4-7pm, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, in Iowa City. 

Harry was born September 25, 1929, in Iowa City.  Among his many accomplishments, Harry was a member of the 1946 City High State Championship Basketball Team.  Harry’s lifelong passion for golf helped him become the 1947 Iowa State Junior Golf Champion.  After graduating from City High School, Harry spent some time working at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas where he played golf with the legendary Ben Hogan.  He served in the United States Navy and attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in teaching.

Harry coached many teams including high school football, track, golf and his favorite, girls’ basketball where he took teams from Walnut and Pleasantville, Iowa to the state tournament in Des Moines.  Upon returning to Iowa City in 1964, Harry taught Math and Science at City High and for a couple of years was the Assistant Principal.  Harry then moved to West High where he continued his teaching and was instrumental in starting the girls’ basketball program.  One of Harry’s proudest moments was being inducted into the City High Hall of Fame in 2011!

His family includes his sister, Barbara Homewood of Iowa City; his sons, Jeff of Las Vegas, NV; Steve of Sunset, SC; and Doug of Blue Eye. MO; along with 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Sr. and Grace Dean; and his wife of 67 years, Sherry.

Harry will be missed by the many students he taught and coached during his career.  He lived a rich, fulfilled life and was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend!