After realizing Dean had spent more on their new puppy than on her original engagement ring, Linda dropped a hint or two reminding him of his proposal promise. He had said, “Someday, I hope to give you a much better one.” They spotted a ring in the estate jewelry section at a favorite store, but soon after the owner told Linda it had been sold.
When Christmas Eve arrived, two presents caught Linda’s eye. One was the size of a ring box. It turned out to be a ring holder with a note promising to find another special ring. The other present was obviously a collectible Waterford plate from Linda’s wish list. Inside that box, alongside the plate, hidden in tissue paper was
the ring!
That’s a Christmas Zinger – a final gift of Christmas designed to wow! Dean was often on the hunt for this type of gift. He always put a lot of thought into what he put under the tree. But he didn’t need to be Santa Claus, as the love he showed every day was the perfect gift.
He loved Christmas. He loved it even more than bellyaching about Linda’s latest vision for holiday décor. Despite his complaints, his cheeks would flush with excitement when it all came together.
Dean carried the spirit of giving throughout the year helping when he could. He would check on neighbors’ homes when they were away or care for their little ones even on short notice.
Born at Midway Hospital in St. Paul at 3:20 a.m. on February 10, 1946, he weighed more than 9 lbs. and had dark brown hair. A note penned by his mother in his baby book reads, “Dean, you have brought so much sunshine into our lives.” His dad wrote, “You are daddy’s sweet little man. He thinks you are just it.”
Raised near Grundy Center, Iowa, Dean’s early years were filled with wrestling matches, football games and lots of early mornings and hard work on the family farm. There were youth events with The Ivester Church of the Brethren and also 4H cattle shows to earn money for college.
Linda first caught sight of 13-year-old Dean at a regional church gathering. Singing from the stage, she saw him in the crowd. First, she noticed his eyes and then she saw he was wearing a suit and tie, different from the other boys. Later she spotted him lugging chairs instead of playing catch and asked a friend, “Do you know who that guy is?” She only got his name at that time. She heard the name again on the way to McPherson College in 1964, learning from one of Dean’s neighbors that he would be in her freshman class.
Linda would say hi to Dean as they passed each other between classes at Harnley Hall. And Dean asked her to Homecoming. Linda was impressed with his dancing. After the event wrapped up, she suggested they take a walk. He agreed and took her hand. Their hands always fit perfectly together. Only later did he tell her his feet were so sore that he nearly fell over when she proposed a stroll.
College years brought leadership roles including being voted as Student Council President in his senior year. Dean graduated in1968 and shortly after, on August 9th, married Linda at the Root River Church of the Brethren in rural Preston, MN. As they dashed through the thrown rice and got into his decorated car, Dean turned the key and it wouldn’t start. He looked at Linda in horror thinking the worst, got out and wondered how to fix it. Meanwhile, Linda happened to glance at the gear shift and noticed Dean had left it in neutral when he had arrived. She reached over, put it in “Park,” turned the key and it started right off. The look on Dean’s face was priceless when he heard the car start. It took a while, but they both ended up laughing about what happened.
Dean had decided to become a dentist after an internal debate between that or becoming a physician. He didn’t think he could handle the death thing and decided it would be easier to say, “Sorry, but this tooth can’t be saved.” He also considered he would be able to have more family time as a dentist and occupational tests in high school showed he was skilled in working with his hands. He was accepted into the School of Dentistry at the University of Iowa and he and Linda moved to Marengo, Iowa where she began teaching 3rd grade. Dean joined a carpool and started driving 30 miles facing the sun in the morning and 30 miles facing the sun in the evening and studying every night and weekends. In the summer of 1970, Dean was offered a grant to perform tooth caries research on mice at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dean and Linda found themselves driving east on I-80 then on the Pennsylvania Turnpike into the city, took a wrong exit and ended up right in the midst of a racial riot. Studying their map in a parking lot, they figured out how to get to the campus and later together on weekends, they explored not only the great history of Philadelphia, but most of the east coast. Linda had to return to Marengo early to start teaching and returned with Dean’s parents who had come to get her as well as tour Washington D.C. with them. Two weeks later, Dean got in his car and stopping only for gas, drove over 15 hours straight home to Marengo hoping to see Linda before she left for school. And he made it.
In the spring of his senior year, Dean, along with two other students, was chosen to be in a pilot Dental Preceptor Program and left the school to specialize in a full-time dental office environment. After receiving his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, Dean and Linda moved to Waverly, Iowa in 1972 to set up a practice. Dean found a house; one he’d only seen in the dark. Together he and Linda worked DIY-style to make it a home. One of their first projects was to find a way to reopen windows painted shut which led to hundreds of others.
Dean and Linda became parents in 1974 when Derrick was born. Lucas came along in 1980. Dean loved being a dad, even choosing outfits for the boys and taking them for bike rides, fishing, camping and trips Up North.
Dean applied a farm boy work ethic to his dental practice and managed to create such an efficient system that he could see as many as 60 patients a day. He worked to stay current on the latest dental techniques and also served on a dental review board. He had a special knack for performing oral surgery especially extracting wisdom teeth. When it was time for Derrick and Lucas to have theirs removed, he bribed them with “all you can eat” vanilla ice cream afterwards.
Dean changed people’s minds about dentists and received many thank you notes from his patients. Other patients that had moved from the area were known to schedule their appointments far in advance to make sure they could always continue to see him. He was particularly good with little kids, often asking them, “Can I count your teeth?” He’d squirt them with the air nozzle until they laughed.
Vacations sometimes came with more work as they often coincided with dental conferences and continued learning. The whole family became Iowa Hawkeye fans and for every home game, they would get up before sunrise, hit the road to Iowa City, park in the dental school lot, and Dean would attend a continuing education course. Tailgating was often chili, chips, apples and Scotcheroos eaten at the yellow fold-out Hawkeye table. Going home would mean turning on WHO, 1040 and listen to the repeat game that they had just seen.
The family visited international destinations including Italy, Portugal, Ireland, China, Iceland, and Scotland. Along with Derrick and Lucas, Dean witnessed the northern lights and climbed many stories down into a volcanic lava tube.
There were travels stateside too, including one particularly complicated trip that involved several car rentals, a chilly Amtrak train, a plane ride, and numerous destinations. Each son got a trip with dad to Napa Valley for a wine hunt.
In pursuit of educational opportunities, Linda, Lucas, and Derrick moved to Minnesota in 1994. Dean, dedicated to his family and his work, drove back and forth between the dental practice in Waverly and the family’s home in Eden Prairie for 14 years until he sold his practice. He wanted to be with his family instead of hearing over the phone what was happening with his family.
Dean really only ever failed at one thing. That was retirement. Inspired by a trip to Italy, the family started a mobile wood-fired pizza business. With Linda making the sauce and supplying party decorations, Lucas manning the fire, and Dean and Derrick working side-by-side to prepare the dough and top the pies. As much as anything, it was a time to be guys together and maybe add to their list of “don’t tell mom” experiences.
Dean and Lucas also worked together at their church, Mount Olivet Lutheran in Victoria, MN. The creativity and hard work needed to pull off projects – like building an “airplane” to engage the youngest members, constructing a riser, creating a peaceful spot to sit and reflect, or with Linda, decorating planters for the seasons – outweighed the far less fun custodial tasks. Dean took pride in all of it.
A constant through Dean’s life was his love of dogs. His first canine companion was Sunday Sue. Muffin was Dean and Linda’s $2 pup. Lin-Lu was the one that prompted the new ring. Gucci was adored and easily teased. Diva lived up to her name and loved 'pup cups'. And finally, Godiva. The topper. One of the smartest and most timid dogs you could meet, Dean picked her out and cherished her. She continues to look around the house for him.
Dean enjoyed good Scotch, great wine, weak coffee, and beer brewed by Lucas. He hated the Minnesota State Fair but would usually cave in and go. He always cheered on the Hawkeyes – was often clad in black and gold – and got to watch them best the Minnesota Gophers this year from his hospital room. He was an unlucky fisherman, a woodworker, a tinkerer, and a not-so-secret Outlander fan. He pulled off aviator sunglasses, found a little escape from this weird year in Hallmark Channel movies, and was often skunked in the search for a baked potato or a hat that fit just right. (Love Your Melon helped with that last one!) He sent good morning texts nearly every day. He was soft-spoken and happy to sit quietly in the company of family or friends. He gave great hugs and always had your back. He lived his life with kindness and compassion, and with a deep love of family.
Dean was very healthy and, along with Linda and Lucas, had started the Keto diet. Dean dove in, seeking out new kinds of flour, learning new recipes, and experimenting with “chaffles” – waffles made with cheese and eggs. We all believed we had many more years with him, but the COVID-19 virus attacked his lungs, and he was unable to recover.
Dean is survived by his wife of 52 years Linda Sheller (Moore), his sons Derrick and Lucas, his daughter-in-law, Derrick’s wife Becky (Nahm), his sister Nancy Haren and her husband Terry, his Uncle Gerald Sheller and Aunt Alice Sheller (Weicksel), his nieces and nephews and his much-loved companion Godiva. He was preceded in death by his father J. Howard Sheller, his mother Katherine (Freed), and his brother Donald Sheller.
Dean Sheller – Linda’s boyfriend and a hero and a best friend to both of his sons – was the perfect gift. And we’d all do anything to have one more Christmas with him.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to any of the following charities:
ASPCA:
http://bit.ly/34dAhfC
The American Lung Association:
http://bit.ly/3ab37B3
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church:
http://bit.ly/3qZaX6y