LaVerne Ella Dean

LaVerne “Vernie” Ella (Otto) Dean (88) was called home by our Lord and Savior on July 7,2026 while in the arms of her loving husband, Gary Lee Dean. LaVerne was born on March 22,1938 in rural Princeton, Wisconsin, the 7th child of Gustav and Ella (Henke) Otto. LaVerne and Gary were united in marriage on November 1, 1958, at the St John’s Lutheran Church in Princeton. They began their journey together first, living and working in Madison for a short time before moving to Monroe, Wisconsin where LaVerne was a stay-at-home mom for their two young children. They then moved back to Princeton, Wisconsin where together she and Gary raised all four of their children. LaVerne was a kindergarten teacher at Princeton Public School and then returned to being a stay-at-home mom and handcrafter, “sewing socks” for Handcraft. She served on the Princeton City Council as their first female council member and spent many hours serving her church helping with recordkeeping. LaVerne enjoyed playing cards and slot machines, hosting dinner parties, traveling, shopping, horses, and all things Christmas. She is best known for her big heart, deep love of family which extended far beyond just her love for Gary and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren but also to include her wide-spread extended family and dear friends. She was referred to by some as a favorite Aunt or the fun one. LaVerne was a devout Christian having raised her family to do the same and she remained faithful to the Lord until He called her home. She leaves behind her husband Gary, their four children Laurie (Mike) Koeck, Dan (Beth) Dean, Andy (Katie) Dean, and Jon (Dawn) Dean, their 9 grandchildren Miranda (Koeck) Banks, Matthew (Erin) Koeck, Erin (Jim) Dickerson, Bradley (Brittany) Dean, Sam (Michael) Dean, Jaycee (Emmie) Dean, Ashley (Steve) Groves Jr, Eric (Kayla) Dean, Sierra (Will) Pagel, and 8 great-grandchildren Madisyn (Jackson) Pargman, Kennedy Tisdale, Emmett Koeck, Porter Koeck, Jaxon Groves, McKenna Groves, Myles Dean and Callaghan Dean. She is further survived by one brother Arlon Otto, and four sisters-in-law Glenda Otto, Shirley Otto, Janice Locke, and Betty Dean. She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother and father-in-law (Howard-Pop and Viola-Ole Dean), sisters Lorraine Otto and Evelyn Harke, brothers Walter Otto, Edward Otto, Marvin Otto, and Lester Otto, many of her sisters and brothers in-law, and nieces Karen (Otto) Bentilla-Williams and Teri (Otto) Davison. A memorial service celebrating the life of LaVerne will be held on August 23, 2026, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac, WI beginning at 2PM. Cremation services were respectfully and compassionately provided by Kurki Funeral Chapel and Cremation in Fond du Lac, WI. LaVerne will be laid to rest near her parents and sister, Lorraine, at the Princeton Cemetery on Monday August 24th at 10AM. In lieu of cut floral arrangements, we would suggest live plants. Her heartbroken family will forever remember their wife, mom (and mom in-law), grandma of three generations, sister, aunt, and friend for her steadfast faith, unswerving love, selflessness, and her tortoise-like hard shell with an enormously soft, tender, can’t get enough of interior.

LaVerne Ella Dean

March 22, 1938 - July 7, 2026