321 N Wood St
Valentine, NE, 69201
Phone: 402-376-2840
Fax: 402-376-2847
In Memory of
Harold Dean
Williams
Williams
1920 - 2018
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Obituary for Harold Dean Williams
Dean Williams died June 11, 2018, at the Brown County Hospital at the age of 98.
Harold “Dean” Williams was born on April 23, 1920, to Harvey Ernest Williams and Olive Ann Williams (Jamison), in the front bedroom of his Grandma Jamison’s house in Ainsworth. He was the oldest of eight children and grew up on the family farm. He attended country school and graduated from Ainsworth High School when he was only 15 years old. He worked in the First National Bank for five years and enlisted in the Navy at age 21. He spent seven months on a destroyer during World War II and was then assigned to a desk job in Washington, DC. After serving four years and eight months in the navy, he attended college on the G.I. Bill at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Speech. His first teaching job was in Oregon where he taught high school English. He received his Master’s Degree in Education while teaching in Oregon and then went on to teach in California where he earned a Master’s Degree in English. He taught college English, as well, both in the United States and overseas. He lived in Weisbad, Germany, and taught English and Journalism for the Air Force for two years. He taught one year in Europe for the University of Maryland. He taught English for the armed forces for four years and was stationed in Tokyo, Japan, but travelled to Thailand and all over. He then went on to teach English for the Japanese for ten years, right before he retired. After retirement, he returned to the family farm and launched a whole new career with the help and advice of his brother Bill Williams. He purchased land and built a cow herd, which he enjoyed for the next ten years.
Growing up, Dean led his seven younger siblings on all kinds of adventures, and he loved nothing more than hiking through the canyons with his Grandma Williams. He grew up during the Great Depression and knew what a hard life meant. As a result, he was extremely generous to others, but very frugal with himself. At one time or another, he provided financial help to his parents and all of his siblings. He never wanted to inconvenience anyone or put anyone out. His stories, wit, and wisdom entertained everyone who knew him. He dispensed common sense advice to all of his nieces and nephews over the years, even if they didn’t heed his advice. Dean said what he thought. He was practical and no-nonsense. Dean was a great cook and pie baker (he even took requests). He was a remarkable man and one-of-a-kind. Even though he travelled the world, Dean was most at home on the Diamond J at the End of the Way ranch in Ainsworth, where he returned every summer. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. His family won’t be the same without him!
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Wayne “Bud” Williams and Bill (Lou Ann) Williams; his sisters: Doris (Art) Wetzel, Bonnie (Rudy) Pelc and Mardell (Bee) Graff; his brother-in-law’s: Al Kienker and Harold Eggert; his niece, Patty Eggert; and his great niece, Stephanie Wetzel.
Dean is survived by two younger sisters, Dorothy Kienker of Central City, NE; Helen Eggert of Camarillo, CA; and one sister-in-law, Wilma Williams of Buena Vista, CO. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Pam Williams, Colleen Pettigrew and Will Williams; Cyndee Melton and Dick Graff; JoAnne Nickel, Ken Pelc and Sandy Pelc; Kay Allinger, Linette Williams and Angie Williams; Deb Wetzel and Art Wetzel; Mike Kienker, Karen Nitschke, Judy Benner and Marilyn Hansen; Dave Eggert and Dan Eggert. His great nieces and nephews are too numerous to mention, with the exception of Jenna and Jensen Williams, who were the apple of his eye!
Celebration of Life luncheon will be held Saturday, August 11, 2018 11:00 a.m. at The Connection, Main Street, Ainsworth, NE. In lieu of memorials do something kind for someone!
Harold “Dean” Williams was born on April 23, 1920, to Harvey Ernest Williams and Olive Ann Williams (Jamison), in the front bedroom of his Grandma Jamison’s house in Ainsworth. He was the oldest of eight children and grew up on the family farm. He attended country school and graduated from Ainsworth High School when he was only 15 years old. He worked in the First National Bank for five years and enlisted in the Navy at age 21. He spent seven months on a destroyer during World War II and was then assigned to a desk job in Washington, DC. After serving four years and eight months in the navy, he attended college on the G.I. Bill at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Speech. His first teaching job was in Oregon where he taught high school English. He received his Master’s Degree in Education while teaching in Oregon and then went on to teach in California where he earned a Master’s Degree in English. He taught college English, as well, both in the United States and overseas. He lived in Weisbad, Germany, and taught English and Journalism for the Air Force for two years. He taught one year in Europe for the University of Maryland. He taught English for the armed forces for four years and was stationed in Tokyo, Japan, but travelled to Thailand and all over. He then went on to teach English for the Japanese for ten years, right before he retired. After retirement, he returned to the family farm and launched a whole new career with the help and advice of his brother Bill Williams. He purchased land and built a cow herd, which he enjoyed for the next ten years.
Growing up, Dean led his seven younger siblings on all kinds of adventures, and he loved nothing more than hiking through the canyons with his Grandma Williams. He grew up during the Great Depression and knew what a hard life meant. As a result, he was extremely generous to others, but very frugal with himself. At one time or another, he provided financial help to his parents and all of his siblings. He never wanted to inconvenience anyone or put anyone out. His stories, wit, and wisdom entertained everyone who knew him. He dispensed common sense advice to all of his nieces and nephews over the years, even if they didn’t heed his advice. Dean said what he thought. He was practical and no-nonsense. Dean was a great cook and pie baker (he even took requests). He was a remarkable man and one-of-a-kind. Even though he travelled the world, Dean was most at home on the Diamond J at the End of the Way ranch in Ainsworth, where he returned every summer. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. His family won’t be the same without him!
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Wayne “Bud” Williams and Bill (Lou Ann) Williams; his sisters: Doris (Art) Wetzel, Bonnie (Rudy) Pelc and Mardell (Bee) Graff; his brother-in-law’s: Al Kienker and Harold Eggert; his niece, Patty Eggert; and his great niece, Stephanie Wetzel.
Dean is survived by two younger sisters, Dorothy Kienker of Central City, NE; Helen Eggert of Camarillo, CA; and one sister-in-law, Wilma Williams of Buena Vista, CO. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Pam Williams, Colleen Pettigrew and Will Williams; Cyndee Melton and Dick Graff; JoAnne Nickel, Ken Pelc and Sandy Pelc; Kay Allinger, Linette Williams and Angie Williams; Deb Wetzel and Art Wetzel; Mike Kienker, Karen Nitschke, Judy Benner and Marilyn Hansen; Dave Eggert and Dan Eggert. His great nieces and nephews are too numerous to mention, with the exception of Jenna and Jensen Williams, who were the apple of his eye!
Celebration of Life luncheon will be held Saturday, August 11, 2018 11:00 a.m. at The Connection, Main Street, Ainsworth, NE. In lieu of memorials do something kind for someone!
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