Dean L. Obermire

Atkinson — Dean Leon Obermire, 86, of Atkinson, died Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Atkinson.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson with a 6 p.m. rosary.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Atkinson.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Dean was born Jan. 21, 1939, in Atkinson, to Willis (Bill) and Hazel (Ofe) Obermire. He was the third of seven children. He grew up North of Atkinson and attended Butte High school until he left for the U.S. Army.  After attending basic training, he went on to Ranger and Jump school.  Dean was sent to Germany and was part of the pistol team that traveled across Europe competing. During his Army time he made three covert jumps into Lebanon during the Lebanon Crisis to gather intel.  

When his military service ended, he returned to Nebraska and rode bareback horses, during this time he met the love of his life Carol, on Feb. 11, 1961, they were married and settled in Omaha. To this union two children were born Tracy and Alisha. Dean worked at Western Electric and Goodyear. They moved from Omaha to Chariton, Iowa where he worked at Johnson Machine and owned a gas station. He also helped a rodeo stock contractor. Finally, the family moved to Atkinson where he broke horses and did ranch work. Dean spent a lot of time with his uncle Gus working with cattle and horses and every once in a while, pheasant hunting.  

Life changed again and he started working for Olson Brothers traveling all over the U.S. as a National Service Manager. He got his pilot license to make travel easier, expanding his travel into Canada also.The pilot license also saved a lot of money in speeding tickets and lawyer fees. While at Olsons he traveled all over the world including Spain, Venezuela and Australia. Dean spent a number of long years in Saudi Arabia working as a Zimmatic center pivot project manager for the Saudi government.  

Over the years Dean has raced stock cars, owned a trucking company, a van service taking people to casinos and events, he went to Africa on safari where he shot an Impala and got to play with lion cubs. He loved to hunt and fish and travel, the traveling highlight was the three months they spent in their motorhome touring to Alaska. And if you ever water skied, you were probably pulled behind his boat.  

As his life started to wind down, he worked part time at the ethanol plant and took care of our mother. Dean was about family first, then friends, he would put his things on hold to help someone else. 

One thing for sure, Dean loved to pick on people. There will be a lot less rib poking and ear pulling. But we know that was his way of showing how much he cared for you. There are so many stories we could go on for hours. He will be missed but not forgotten!

Dean is survived by his wife Carol Obermire of Atkinson; one son Tracy (Audrey) Obermire of Norfolk; one daughter Alisha Stoltenberg (Todd McManigal) of Center; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four siblings Byron (Judy) Obermire of Atkinson, Barb (Jerry) VanHouten of Butte, Joe (Cheryl) Obermire of Norfolk and Rick Obermire of Gillette, WY; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Wills and Hazel Obermire, two brothers Donnie and Ray, in-laws Cecilia and Pearl Hatfield, one sister-in-law Franny and one son-in-law Dave Stoltenberg.