Dean William Warkentin

 Dean William Warkentin, of Beaver, Oklahoma passed away on 9 April 2023; Dean was 95 years old.  Dean was born 30 October, 1927 in Gray, Oklahoma to John DeWalt Warkentin, an immigrant from a German Mennonite community near Samara, Russia, and Melle Idris Crouse, who had come to the panhandle of Oklahoma from Iowa with her father and brother in a covered wagon. Dean's father died when he was only six months old, and was raised by his mother and older brothers and sisters. 

Dean attended school in Beaver and volunteered for the draft while in high school, receiving his GED while in the Army, and serving in the Philippines at the end of WWII. Dean returned to Beaver and worked in construction, helping to build the Beaver Memorial Hospital. Eventually he started his own carpentry business building many homes in Beaver County, and performed custom remodeling for many more in Beaver, Forgan and the surrounding area. Dean specialized in building fine kitchen cabinets, china cabinets, and bookcases. In his spare time Dean loved hunting and fishing, teaching his sons both from an early age. 

Dean was devoted to his wife Mary Lou and especially during her years of illness spent many days driving to doctor's appointments, hospitals, dialysis treatments and taking care of her within the home.  In his later years Dean loved to garden, winning awards at the county fair for many of the vegetables that he grew, and supplying vegetables to all his neighbors.

Dean is survived by son Kevin Warkentin and wife Jeanne, two granddaughters, Lindsay Shizuko Warkentin of Newport Beach, CA, and Kelsey Kazuko Doran and her husband Dane of Dana Point, CA, as well as  numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou (Hoover) Warkentin, brothers & sisters John DeWalt, Harold, Anna Statton and Helen Little, and son Keith Warkentin.

The family has requested that any memorials be made to the charity of your choice. Services for Dean are pending.