V. Dean Birkenholtz

V. Dean Birkenholtz, 85, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at Skiff Medical Center.  A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, July 22, at the First Lutheran Church in Newton.  The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Friday, July 21, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  Memorials to Mercy Hospice or the First Lutheran Church may be left at the funeral home or at the church the day of the service.

Dean, the son of Charlie and Minnie (Thomason) Birkenholtz, was born on July 30, 1931, on a farm near Monroe.  He graduated from Newton High School in 1950.  Dean served his country in the National Guard from 1950-1953.

On March 25, 1951, Dean was united in marriage to Barbara Ann Meyer.  Dean was a farmer and also did carpentry work.  He built many buildings and homes in Jasper County.  Dean was a member of the Newton Elks Club and the First Lutheran Church.  He also was a former member of the Emerson Hough Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. Dean enjoyed annual fishing trips to Canada, playing cards, and working in his shop.  Family get togethers on Sunday were an important part of his life.

Those left to honor Dean’s memory are his wife, Barbara Birkenholtz of Newton; daughters, Julie (Ron) Brown of Newton and Susan (Ken) Ruden of Dexter; sons, Gary “Bud” (Belinda) Birkenholtz of Newton and Dwight (Barb) Birkenholtz of Colfax; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Rachel (David) Lester and their children, Harlee and Devin, Ed Guthrie, Clint Birkenholtz and his children, Hayden and Charlotte, Chad (Nicole) Birkenholtz, and their daughter, Roslin; Elizabeth Place and fiancé, Ryan Keim, and Angela (Taylor) Johnson; brother, Ordell (Jean) Birkenholtz of Newton; sister-in-law, Betty Lindsey of Marshalltown; his several step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Thelma Anderson in 2007; and a brother, Everett Birkenholtz in 2007.

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