Michele N. Dean, 52, our most beautiful mother and wife, died unexpectedly at her cottage in Lac du Flambeau on Saturday, June 7, 2008. She was born July 20, 1955, in Green Bay, to the late Michael and Genevieve (Ebert) Nelson. She graduated from Bay Port High School in 1973. She attended NWTC shortly after graduation from high school. Michele was united in marriage to Robert Dean on Oct. 27, 1984, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Howard. Michele worked at Warren/Weyers Insurance as an account specialist until 1990 when she decided she wanted to become a full time mother. She was a courageous, determined and unwavering two time breast cancer survivor and spent many days talking to Green Bay area high school students about the importance of breast cancer awareness through her volunteer work at The Breast Cancer Family Foundation.
Michele is best known for her love of her two children, Bobby and Jimmy, and her very special niece and godchild, Gabriele Nelson, who moved in with the Dean family after the unfortunate death of her mother, Gayle Nelson, (Michele's younger sister) from breast cancer in March of 1999. Michele's love for her two sons and Gabriele was overwhelming and amazing. She enjoyed watching Gabriele compete in basketball and soccer at Green Bay Southwest which turned out to be the precursor for things to come with her two sons. She spent many a day watching Bobby compete in three varsity sports at Southwest. She was so very proud of Bobby especially when he was chosen captain on the varsity football and basketball teams as a senior. She also spent many summer days and nights watching both her sons compete in youth baseball from the Minor leagues through Legion. She spent many fall afternoons on the sidelines watching both boys play youth football for the Westside Wolverines. Her devotion to her two boys as a "Green Bay Southwest High School Basketball Mom" is touching to all who knew her. She helped her husband organize (with many other people) the Southwest Youth Basketball Organization. Michele spent many weekends in the gyms throughout NE Wisconsin watching her son, Jimmy and his teammates play for the SWYBO. One of her greatest joys and enjoyments in her life was seeing both of her two sons start for the Southwest Boys Varsity Basketball team during their 2005 to 2006 season. She was especially looking forward to this fall/winter when her "little Jimmy" will complete his last season as the Southwest point guard-the position he has been starting at for the last four years. She was forever the "basketball mom" and she carried on this role with Jimmy's AAU basketball team during the past three seasons. She and her husband met the greatest collection of parents and players through the AAU team and she treasured the many weekends she spent with all of the parents and boys; more especially when the boys played in Wisconsin Dells this past May! She was well known around Green Bay Southwest community as someone who was not afraid to volunteer for a project and run with it. She was very active in the Southwest High School Booster Club and served a number of terms in leadership positions with the booster club. She made many friends through her involvement in high school sports and more especially through her many hours of devotion to the students at Southwest. She inspired others, she had a very positive impact on students, parents and teachers through her volunteer work at Southwest. She wasn't afraid to give back to her adopted high school. Although she graduated from high school early on in life as a Bay Port Pirate, she will be forever thought of, and known as a Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojan Mom! Go Trojans!! Her love of the University of Wisconsin football team came later on in life when her son, Bobby became a student at UW-Madison in 2006. She truly enjoyed and looked forward to watching the UW Marching Band pre-game show before each Badger home game. Her relationship with UW was somewhat special and ironic as it was at the University Hospital in Madison at their Cancer Clinic where she received much of her treatment and therapy for breast cancer in the 90's. She was truly a Badger Mom! Go Badgers!
Michele absolutely enjoyed being a member at Oneida Golf and Country Club. She looked forward to her Wednesday Ladies League and participated in many of their events. From the 90's on into the 2000's, she helped coordinate Oneida's Junior Golf Program with their golf staff. Michele spent many Friday mornings in the summer underneath the trees by the driving range insuring that hundreds of boys and girls got their chance to enjoy the game of golf. Fore!
Michele found the time to speak many times each year at area high schools through her volunteer work with the Breast Cancer Family Foundation. She believed it was important to talk with all students about the importance of breast cancer exams and awareness. Michele was also an active participant in the American Breast Cancer Run/Walk each Fall with her sisters and many friends.
Michele has many dear and close friends. Her trips to New York City with her very best friend, Tammy, were especially memorable. Her Wisconsin Dells trip with her very dear friend, Flora was also special and she always looked forward to the annual golf vacations to Arizona with her dear friend, Colleen. Her "sewing club" events with her friends from high school were very special to her. Michele's "girl's night out" occasions with her dear friends, Cindy, Karen and B.J. were memorable. She will miss the annual Thursday night "Pulaski Polka Days" night out with her friends, especially this year as her favorite team of horses "The Budweiser Clydesdales" will be at the Pulaski Polka Days this year. This Bud's for you, Michele! Michele's favorite vacation spot was in the Bahamas. She spent many times at the Atlantis Resort with her husband and it was far and away their favorite time together (away from the kids). She was fortunate to visit many countries with her husband on their vacations, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Thailand, Hawaii, Mexico, many of the islands in the Caribbean, to name just a few. Michele enjoyed her annual excursions to Disney World in Orlando where the entire family spent many a spring break along with many nieces and friends.
Michele's favorite place was "up north" at the family cottage where she enjoyed many wonderful sunsets from the deck of our very dear neighbors, Chip and Cathy. She enjoyed playing catch with her golden retriever, Baylee as she splashed in the water after the balls Michele would throw to her. Michele enjoyed the many boat rides she took with her family especially when her two sons and their friends were tubing behind the family boat. She met many very dear friends and acquaintances at her "second home" and their friendships will never be forgotten.
If you knew Michele, you knew of her love for butterflies and sunsets. Her favorite quote went like this "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder". So the next time you see a butterfly flying around or watch a beautiful sunset know Michele is there in spirit for you.
Michele is survived by her husband, Bob; her two sons, Bobby and Jimmy and her favorite niece and godchild, Gabriele; her father-in-law, Russell E. Dean; her sisters, Sue (Merlin) Luedke, Green Bay; Sharon Valentine, Green Bay; Mary (Dick) Reinhard, Green Bay; Patti (Tim) Perry, Los Gatos, Calif.; her half-sister, Tina (Kurt) Kechhaver, Green Bay; her brothers, Lee (Becky) Nelson, Seymour; Wayne (Nancy) Nelson, Pulaski; David (Barb) Nelson, Green Bay; Greg Nelson, Green Bay; brothers-in-law, Wayne Naparalla, Oneida; James (Jill) Dean, Oneida; Bill (Mary Jo) Dean; sister-in-law, Patty (Greg) Dow; nephews, Joshua Dean, Kyle Dean, Taylor Dow, Paul Reinhard, (her very special godchild), Jon Reinhard, Scott Luedke, Shane Nelson, Michael Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Brian Valentine, Troy Valentine, Kevin Naparalla, Tyler Joachim; nieces, Stephanie Valentine, (her very special niece), Heather Nelson, (her very special niece), Jodi Przybylski, Jenny Heckmann, Tracey Huben, Shondi Nelson, Courtney Mooren, Lyndsey Nelson, Carrie Naparalla, Christine Vanden Houten, Mindy Colucci, Dawn Kulman, Nicole Naparalla, Shannon Dean, Danielle Dow, Marissa Dow, Emily Kechhauer. She is also survived by many other loving great-nieces and great-nephews.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Genevieve; her grandparents; her older sister, Lynn Naparalla; her younger sister, Gayle Nelson; her mothers-in-law, Bunny Dean, Betty Dean.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may also call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave., Village of Howard, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. John Bergstadt officiating. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established to benefit The Breast Cancer Family Foundation and The Green Bay Southwest Championship Facility Campaign.
The Dean family would like to offer a warm note of appreciation to our neighbors "up north" who were with Michele in her time of need, Chip and Cathy Mullineux, Glen and Sherri Elms, Kristi Elms and her fiance, Chris Feldberg, Alyssa Doom (our son Bobby's girlfriend), Josh Dart, Deontay Gray and Bobby's many Southwest and Madison friends who were at the cottage at the time. The family would also like to thank Tom and Lori Wagner from the Lac du Flambeau Fire and Rescue, the ER staff at Howard Young Memorial Hospital in Woodruff and Paul Tirpe, of Vilas County. She will be sadly missed by her husband and her children and everyone who knew her.
Obituary courtesy of: http://www.blaneyfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=893534&fh_id=13215
Michele is best known for her love of her two children, Bobby and Jimmy, and her very special niece and godchild, Gabriele Nelson, who moved in with the Dean family after the unfortunate death of her mother, Gayle Nelson, (Michele's younger sister) from breast cancer in March of 1999. Michele's love for her two sons and Gabriele was overwhelming and amazing. She enjoyed watching Gabriele compete in basketball and soccer at Green Bay Southwest which turned out to be the precursor for things to come with her two sons. She spent many a day watching Bobby compete in three varsity sports at Southwest. She was so very proud of Bobby especially when he was chosen captain on the varsity football and basketball teams as a senior. She also spent many summer days and nights watching both her sons compete in youth baseball from the Minor leagues through Legion. She spent many fall afternoons on the sidelines watching both boys play youth football for the Westside Wolverines. Her devotion to her two boys as a "Green Bay Southwest High School Basketball Mom" is touching to all who knew her. She helped her husband organize (with many other people) the Southwest Youth Basketball Organization. Michele spent many weekends in the gyms throughout NE Wisconsin watching her son, Jimmy and his teammates play for the SWYBO. One of her greatest joys and enjoyments in her life was seeing both of her two sons start for the Southwest Boys Varsity Basketball team during their 2005 to 2006 season. She was especially looking forward to this fall/winter when her "little Jimmy" will complete his last season as the Southwest point guard-the position he has been starting at for the last four years. She was forever the "basketball mom" and she carried on this role with Jimmy's AAU basketball team during the past three seasons. She and her husband met the greatest collection of parents and players through the AAU team and she treasured the many weekends she spent with all of the parents and boys; more especially when the boys played in Wisconsin Dells this past May! She was well known around Green Bay Southwest community as someone who was not afraid to volunteer for a project and run with it. She was very active in the Southwest High School Booster Club and served a number of terms in leadership positions with the booster club. She made many friends through her involvement in high school sports and more especially through her many hours of devotion to the students at Southwest. She inspired others, she had a very positive impact on students, parents and teachers through her volunteer work at Southwest. She wasn't afraid to give back to her adopted high school. Although she graduated from high school early on in life as a Bay Port Pirate, she will be forever thought of, and known as a Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojan Mom! Go Trojans!! Her love of the University of Wisconsin football team came later on in life when her son, Bobby became a student at UW-Madison in 2006. She truly enjoyed and looked forward to watching the UW Marching Band pre-game show before each Badger home game. Her relationship with UW was somewhat special and ironic as it was at the University Hospital in Madison at their Cancer Clinic where she received much of her treatment and therapy for breast cancer in the 90's. She was truly a Badger Mom! Go Badgers!
Michele absolutely enjoyed being a member at Oneida Golf and Country Club. She looked forward to her Wednesday Ladies League and participated in many of their events. From the 90's on into the 2000's, she helped coordinate Oneida's Junior Golf Program with their golf staff. Michele spent many Friday mornings in the summer underneath the trees by the driving range insuring that hundreds of boys and girls got their chance to enjoy the game of golf. Fore!
Michele found the time to speak many times each year at area high schools through her volunteer work with the Breast Cancer Family Foundation. She believed it was important to talk with all students about the importance of breast cancer exams and awareness. Michele was also an active participant in the American Breast Cancer Run/Walk each Fall with her sisters and many friends.
Michele has many dear and close friends. Her trips to New York City with her very best friend, Tammy, were especially memorable. Her Wisconsin Dells trip with her very dear friend, Flora was also special and she always looked forward to the annual golf vacations to Arizona with her dear friend, Colleen. Her "sewing club" events with her friends from high school were very special to her. Michele's "girl's night out" occasions with her dear friends, Cindy, Karen and B.J. were memorable. She will miss the annual Thursday night "Pulaski Polka Days" night out with her friends, especially this year as her favorite team of horses "The Budweiser Clydesdales" will be at the Pulaski Polka Days this year. This Bud's for you, Michele! Michele's favorite vacation spot was in the Bahamas. She spent many times at the Atlantis Resort with her husband and it was far and away their favorite time together (away from the kids). She was fortunate to visit many countries with her husband on their vacations, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Thailand, Hawaii, Mexico, many of the islands in the Caribbean, to name just a few. Michele enjoyed her annual excursions to Disney World in Orlando where the entire family spent many a spring break along with many nieces and friends.
Michele's favorite place was "up north" at the family cottage where she enjoyed many wonderful sunsets from the deck of our very dear neighbors, Chip and Cathy. She enjoyed playing catch with her golden retriever, Baylee as she splashed in the water after the balls Michele would throw to her. Michele enjoyed the many boat rides she took with her family especially when her two sons and their friends were tubing behind the family boat. She met many very dear friends and acquaintances at her "second home" and their friendships will never be forgotten.
If you knew Michele, you knew of her love for butterflies and sunsets. Her favorite quote went like this "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder". So the next time you see a butterfly flying around or watch a beautiful sunset know Michele is there in spirit for you.
Michele is survived by her husband, Bob; her two sons, Bobby and Jimmy and her favorite niece and godchild, Gabriele; her father-in-law, Russell E. Dean; her sisters, Sue (Merlin) Luedke, Green Bay; Sharon Valentine, Green Bay; Mary (Dick) Reinhard, Green Bay; Patti (Tim) Perry, Los Gatos, Calif.; her half-sister, Tina (Kurt) Kechhaver, Green Bay; her brothers, Lee (Becky) Nelson, Seymour; Wayne (Nancy) Nelson, Pulaski; David (Barb) Nelson, Green Bay; Greg Nelson, Green Bay; brothers-in-law, Wayne Naparalla, Oneida; James (Jill) Dean, Oneida; Bill (Mary Jo) Dean; sister-in-law, Patty (Greg) Dow; nephews, Joshua Dean, Kyle Dean, Taylor Dow, Paul Reinhard, (her very special godchild), Jon Reinhard, Scott Luedke, Shane Nelson, Michael Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Brian Valentine, Troy Valentine, Kevin Naparalla, Tyler Joachim; nieces, Stephanie Valentine, (her very special niece), Heather Nelson, (her very special niece), Jodi Przybylski, Jenny Heckmann, Tracey Huben, Shondi Nelson, Courtney Mooren, Lyndsey Nelson, Carrie Naparalla, Christine Vanden Houten, Mindy Colucci, Dawn Kulman, Nicole Naparalla, Shannon Dean, Danielle Dow, Marissa Dow, Emily Kechhauer. She is also survived by many other loving great-nieces and great-nephews.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Genevieve; her grandparents; her older sister, Lynn Naparalla; her younger sister, Gayle Nelson; her mothers-in-law, Bunny Dean, Betty Dean.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may also call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave., Village of Howard, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. John Bergstadt officiating. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established to benefit The Breast Cancer Family Foundation and The Green Bay Southwest Championship Facility Campaign.
The Dean family would like to offer a warm note of appreciation to our neighbors "up north" who were with Michele in her time of need, Chip and Cathy Mullineux, Glen and Sherri Elms, Kristi Elms and her fiance, Chris Feldberg, Alyssa Doom (our son Bobby's girlfriend), Josh Dart, Deontay Gray and Bobby's many Southwest and Madison friends who were at the cottage at the time. The family would also like to thank Tom and Lori Wagner from the Lac du Flambeau Fire and Rescue, the ER staff at Howard Young Memorial Hospital in Woodruff and Paul Tirpe, of Vilas County. She will be sadly missed by her husband and her children and everyone who knew her.
Obituary courtesy of: http://www.blaneyfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=893534&fh_id=13215
Michele N. Dean, 52, our most beautiful mother and wife, died unexpectedly at her cottage in Lac du Flambeau on Saturday, June 7, 2008. She was born July 20, 1955, in Green Bay, to the late Michael and Genevieve (Ebert) Nelson. She graduated from Bay Port High School in 1973. She attended NWTC shortly after graduation from high school. Michele was united in marriage to Robert Dean on Oct. 27, 1984, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Howard. Michele worked at Warren/Weyers Insurance as an account specialist until 1990 when she decided she wanted to become a full time mother. She was a courageous, determined and unwavering two time breast cancer survivor and spent many days talking to Green Bay area high school students about the importance of breast cancer awareness through her volunteer work at The Breast Cancer Family Foundation.
Michele is best known for her love of her two children, Bobby and Jimmy, and her very special niece and godchild, Gabriele Nelson, who moved in with the Dean family after the unfortunate death of her mother, Gayle Nelson, (Michele's younger sister) from breast cancer in March of 1999. Michele's love for her two sons and Gabriele was overwhelming and amazing. She enjoyed watching Gabriele compete in basketball and soccer at Green Bay Southwest which turned out to be the precursor for things to come with her two sons. She spent many a day watching Bobby compete in three varsity sports at Southwest. She was so very proud of Bobby especially when he was chosen captain on the varsity football and basketball teams as a senior. She also spent many summer days and nights watching both her sons compete in youth baseball from the Minor leagues through Legion. She spent many fall afternoons on the sidelines watching both boys play youth football for the Westside Wolverines. Her devotion to her two boys as a "Green Bay Southwest High School Basketball Mom" is touching to all who knew her. She helped her husband organize (with many other people) the Southwest Youth Basketball Organization. Michele spent many weekends in the gyms throughout NE Wisconsin watching her son, Jimmy and his teammates play for the SWYBO. One of her greatest joys and enjoyments in her life was seeing both of her two sons start for the Southwest Boys Varsity Basketball team during their 2005 to 2006 season. She was especially looking forward to this fall/winter when her "little Jimmy" will complete his last season as the Southwest point guard-the position he has been starting at for the last four years. She was forever the "basketball mom" and she carried on this role with Jimmy's AAU basketball team during the past three seasons. She and her husband met the greatest collection of parents and players through the AAU team and she treasured the many weekends she spent with all of the parents and boys; more especially when the boys played in Wisconsin Dells this past May! She was well known around Green Bay Southwest community as someone who was not afraid to volunteer for a project and run with it. She was very active in the Southwest High School Booster Club and served a number of terms in leadership positions with the booster club. She made many friends through her involvement in high school sports and more especially through her many hours of devotion to the students at Southwest. She inspired others, she had a very positive impact on students, parents and teachers through her volunteer work at Southwest. She wasn't afraid to give back to her adopted high school. Although she graduated from high school early on in life as a Bay Port Pirate, she will be forever thought of, and known as a Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojan Mom! Go Trojans!! Her love of the University of Wisconsin football team came later on in life when her son, Bobby became a student at UW-Madison in 2006. She truly enjoyed and looked forward to watching the UW Marching Band pre-game show before each Badger home game. Her relationship with UW was somewhat special and ironic as it was at the University Hospital in Madison at their Cancer Clinic where she received much of her treatment and therapy for breast cancer in the 90's. She was truly a Badger Mom! Go Badgers!
Michele absolutely enjoyed being a member at Oneida Golf and Country Club. She looked forward to her Wednesday Ladies League and participated in many of their events. From the 90's on into the 2000's, she helped coordinate Oneida's Junior Golf Program with their golf staff. Michele spent many Friday mornings in the summer underneath the trees by the driving range insuring that hundreds of boys and girls got their chance to enjoy the game of golf. Fore!
Michele found the time to speak many times each year at area high schools through her volunteer work with the Breast Cancer Family Foundation. She believed it was important to talk with all students about the importance of breast cancer exams and awareness. Michele was also an active participant in the American Breast Cancer Run/Walk each Fall with her sisters and many friends.
Michele has many dear and close friends. Her trips to New York City with her very best friend, Tammy, were especially memorable. Her Wisconsin Dells trip with her very dear friend, Flora was also special and she always looked forward to the annual golf vacations to Arizona with her dear friend, Colleen. Her "sewing club" events with her friends from high school were very special to her. Michele's "girl's night out" occasions with her dear friends, Cindy, Karen and B.J. were memorable. She will miss the annual Thursday night "Pulaski Polka Days" night out with her friends, especially this year as her favorite team of horses "The Budweiser Clydesdales" will be at the Pulaski Polka Days this year. This Bud's for you, Michele! Michele's favorite vacation spot was in the Bahamas. She spent many times at the Atlantis Resort with her husband and it was far and away their favorite time together (away from the kids). She was fortunate to visit many countries with her husband on their vacations, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Thailand, Hawaii, Mexico, many of the islands in the Caribbean, to name just a few. Michele enjoyed her annual excursions to Disney World in Orlando where the entire family spent many a spring break along with many nieces and friends.
Michele's favorite place was "up north" at the family cottage where she enjoyed many wonderful sunsets from the deck of our very dear neighbors, Chip and Cathy. She enjoyed playing catch with her golden retriever, Baylee as she splashed in the water after the balls Michele would throw to her. Michele enjoyed the many boat rides she took with her family especially when her two sons and their friends were tubing behind the family boat. She met many very dear friends and acquaintances at her "second home" and their friendships will never be forgotten.
If you knew Michele, you knew of her love for butterflies and sunsets. Her favorite quote went like this "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder". So the next time you see a butterfly flying around or watch a beautiful sunset know Michele is there in spirit for you.
Michele is survived by her husband, Bob; her two sons, Bobby and Jimmy and her favorite niece and godchild, Gabriele; her father-in-law, Russell E. Dean; her sisters, Sue (Merlin) Luedke, Green Bay; Sharon Valentine, Green Bay; Mary (Dick) Reinhard, Green Bay; Patti (Tim) Perry, Los Gatos, Calif.; her half-sister, Tina (Kurt) Kechhaver, Green Bay; her brothers, Lee (Becky) Nelson, Seymour; Wayne (Nancy) Nelson, Pulaski; David (Barb) Nelson, Green Bay; Greg Nelson, Green Bay; brothers-in-law, Wayne Naparalla, Oneida; James (Jill) Dean, Oneida; Bill (Mary Jo) Dean; sister-in-law, Patty (Greg) Dow; nephews, Joshua Dean, Kyle Dean, Taylor Dow, Paul Reinhard, (her very special godchild), Jon Reinhard, Scott Luedke, Shane Nelson, Michael Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Brian Valentine, Troy Valentine, Kevin Naparalla, Tyler Joachim; nieces, Stephanie Valentine, (her very special niece), Heather Nelson, (her very special niece), Jodi Przybylski, Jenny Heckmann, Tracey Huben, Shondi Nelson, Courtney Mooren, Lyndsey Nelson, Carrie Naparalla, Christine Vanden Houten, Mindy Colucci, Dawn Kulman, Nicole Naparalla, Shannon Dean, Danielle Dow, Marissa Dow, Emily Kechhauer. She is also survived by many other loving great-nieces and great-nephews.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Genevieve; her grandparents; her older sister, Lynn Naparalla; her younger sister, Gayle Nelson; her mothers-in-law, Bunny Dean, Betty Dean.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may also call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave., Village of Howard, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. John Bergstadt officiating. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established to benefit The Breast Cancer Family Foundation and The Green Bay Southwest Championship Facility Campaign.
The Dean family would like to offer a warm note of appreciation to our neighbors "up north" who were with Michele in her time of need, Chip and Cathy Mullineux, Glen and Sherri Elms, Kristi Elms and her fiance, Chris Feldberg, Alyssa Doom (our son Bobby's girlfriend), Josh Dart, Deontay Gray and Bobby's many Southwest and Madison friends who were at the cottage at the time. The family would also like to thank Tom and Lori Wagner from the Lac du Flambeau Fire and Rescue, the ER staff at Howard Young Memorial Hospital in Woodruff and Paul Tirpe, of Vilas County. She will be sadly missed by her husband and her children and everyone who knew her.
Obituary courtesy of: http://www.blaneyfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=893534&fh_id=13215
Michele is best known for her love of her two children, Bobby and Jimmy, and her very special niece and godchild, Gabriele Nelson, who moved in with the Dean family after the unfortunate death of her mother, Gayle Nelson, (Michele's younger sister) from breast cancer in March of 1999. Michele's love for her two sons and Gabriele was overwhelming and amazing. She enjoyed watching Gabriele compete in basketball and soccer at Green Bay Southwest which turned out to be the precursor for things to come with her two sons. She spent many a day watching Bobby compete in three varsity sports at Southwest. She was so very proud of Bobby especially when he was chosen captain on the varsity football and basketball teams as a senior. She also spent many summer days and nights watching both her sons compete in youth baseball from the Minor leagues through Legion. She spent many fall afternoons on the sidelines watching both boys play youth football for the Westside Wolverines. Her devotion to her two boys as a "Green Bay Southwest High School Basketball Mom" is touching to all who knew her. She helped her husband organize (with many other people) the Southwest Youth Basketball Organization. Michele spent many weekends in the gyms throughout NE Wisconsin watching her son, Jimmy and his teammates play for the SWYBO. One of her greatest joys and enjoyments in her life was seeing both of her two sons start for the Southwest Boys Varsity Basketball team during their 2005 to 2006 season. She was especially looking forward to this fall/winter when her "little Jimmy" will complete his last season as the Southwest point guard-the position he has been starting at for the last four years. She was forever the "basketball mom" and she carried on this role with Jimmy's AAU basketball team during the past three seasons. She and her husband met the greatest collection of parents and players through the AAU team and she treasured the many weekends she spent with all of the parents and boys; more especially when the boys played in Wisconsin Dells this past May! She was well known around Green Bay Southwest community as someone who was not afraid to volunteer for a project and run with it. She was very active in the Southwest High School Booster Club and served a number of terms in leadership positions with the booster club. She made many friends through her involvement in high school sports and more especially through her many hours of devotion to the students at Southwest. She inspired others, she had a very positive impact on students, parents and teachers through her volunteer work at Southwest. She wasn't afraid to give back to her adopted high school. Although she graduated from high school early on in life as a Bay Port Pirate, she will be forever thought of, and known as a Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojan Mom! Go Trojans!! Her love of the University of Wisconsin football team came later on in life when her son, Bobby became a student at UW-Madison in 2006. She truly enjoyed and looked forward to watching the UW Marching Band pre-game show before each Badger home game. Her relationship with UW was somewhat special and ironic as it was at the University Hospital in Madison at their Cancer Clinic where she received much of her treatment and therapy for breast cancer in the 90's. She was truly a Badger Mom! Go Badgers!
Michele absolutely enjoyed being a member at Oneida Golf and Country Club. She looked forward to her Wednesday Ladies League and participated in many of their events. From the 90's on into the 2000's, she helped coordinate Oneida's Junior Golf Program with their golf staff. Michele spent many Friday mornings in the summer underneath the trees by the driving range insuring that hundreds of boys and girls got their chance to enjoy the game of golf. Fore!
Michele found the time to speak many times each year at area high schools through her volunteer work with the Breast Cancer Family Foundation. She believed it was important to talk with all students about the importance of breast cancer exams and awareness. Michele was also an active participant in the American Breast Cancer Run/Walk each Fall with her sisters and many friends.
Michele has many dear and close friends. Her trips to New York City with her very best friend, Tammy, were especially memorable. Her Wisconsin Dells trip with her very dear friend, Flora was also special and she always looked forward to the annual golf vacations to Arizona with her dear friend, Colleen. Her "sewing club" events with her friends from high school were very special to her. Michele's "girl's night out" occasions with her dear friends, Cindy, Karen and B.J. were memorable. She will miss the annual Thursday night "Pulaski Polka Days" night out with her friends, especially this year as her favorite team of horses "The Budweiser Clydesdales" will be at the Pulaski Polka Days this year. This Bud's for you, Michele! Michele's favorite vacation spot was in the Bahamas. She spent many times at the Atlantis Resort with her husband and it was far and away their favorite time together (away from the kids). She was fortunate to visit many countries with her husband on their vacations, Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Thailand, Hawaii, Mexico, many of the islands in the Caribbean, to name just a few. Michele enjoyed her annual excursions to Disney World in Orlando where the entire family spent many a spring break along with many nieces and friends.
Michele's favorite place was "up north" at the family cottage where she enjoyed many wonderful sunsets from the deck of our very dear neighbors, Chip and Cathy. She enjoyed playing catch with her golden retriever, Baylee as she splashed in the water after the balls Michele would throw to her. Michele enjoyed the many boat rides she took with her family especially when her two sons and their friends were tubing behind the family boat. She met many very dear friends and acquaintances at her "second home" and their friendships will never be forgotten.
If you knew Michele, you knew of her love for butterflies and sunsets. Her favorite quote went like this "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder". So the next time you see a butterfly flying around or watch a beautiful sunset know Michele is there in spirit for you.
Michele is survived by her husband, Bob; her two sons, Bobby and Jimmy and her favorite niece and godchild, Gabriele; her father-in-law, Russell E. Dean; her sisters, Sue (Merlin) Luedke, Green Bay; Sharon Valentine, Green Bay; Mary (Dick) Reinhard, Green Bay; Patti (Tim) Perry, Los Gatos, Calif.; her half-sister, Tina (Kurt) Kechhaver, Green Bay; her brothers, Lee (Becky) Nelson, Seymour; Wayne (Nancy) Nelson, Pulaski; David (Barb) Nelson, Green Bay; Greg Nelson, Green Bay; brothers-in-law, Wayne Naparalla, Oneida; James (Jill) Dean, Oneida; Bill (Mary Jo) Dean; sister-in-law, Patty (Greg) Dow; nephews, Joshua Dean, Kyle Dean, Taylor Dow, Paul Reinhard, (her very special godchild), Jon Reinhard, Scott Luedke, Shane Nelson, Michael Nelson, Wayne Nelson, Brian Valentine, Troy Valentine, Kevin Naparalla, Tyler Joachim; nieces, Stephanie Valentine, (her very special niece), Heather Nelson, (her very special niece), Jodi Przybylski, Jenny Heckmann, Tracey Huben, Shondi Nelson, Courtney Mooren, Lyndsey Nelson, Carrie Naparalla, Christine Vanden Houten, Mindy Colucci, Dawn Kulman, Nicole Naparalla, Shannon Dean, Danielle Dow, Marissa Dow, Emily Kechhauer. She is also survived by many other loving great-nieces and great-nephews.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Genevieve; her grandparents; her older sister, Lynn Naparalla; her younger sister, Gayle Nelson; her mothers-in-law, Bunny Dean, Betty Dean.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Friends may also call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave., Village of Howard, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. John Bergstadt officiating. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial fund has been established to benefit The Breast Cancer Family Foundation and The Green Bay Southwest Championship Facility Campaign.
The Dean family would like to offer a warm note of appreciation to our neighbors "up north" who were with Michele in her time of need, Chip and Cathy Mullineux, Glen and Sherri Elms, Kristi Elms and her fiance, Chris Feldberg, Alyssa Doom (our son Bobby's girlfriend), Josh Dart, Deontay Gray and Bobby's many Southwest and Madison friends who were at the cottage at the time. The family would also like to thank Tom and Lori Wagner from the Lac du Flambeau Fire and Rescue, the ER staff at Howard Young Memorial Hospital in Woodruff and Paul Tirpe, of Vilas County. She will be sadly missed by her husband and her children and everyone who knew her.
Obituary courtesy of: http://www.blaneyfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=893534&fh_id=13215
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