Dean Edward Brase

Dean Edward Brase, 72, passed away peacefully September 24, 2024, at his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Dean was born June 1, 1952, to Alvin and Rosalie (Reuscher) Brase in rural Bremer County Iowa on the family farm. The second of four brothers, life largely consisted of school and keeping the farm running day to day. Dean met the love of his life Debra Ann Steggall on March 19th, 1972, a day forever memorialized in the police blotter that evening. Caught together in a bit of college era vandalism, Dean paid her fine and won her heart. They would be partners in mischief the rest of their lives. Over the next 40 years, Dean and Deb put down roots in Fairbank, Iowa, and would raise three children: Dustin, Danielle, and Dawn. They would also host two exchange daughters, Romana and Lena.

The Steggall family business was heavy truck sales and service with a dealership located in Fairbank. Dean joined as a diesel mechanic. As the business evolved and became computerized, he turned in his wrench for a keyboard and took over computer operations, and eventually he and Deb would be one portion of the family partnership that owned the business. Like many other rural Iowans, farming was the other part of the equation, and spring/fall were busy times with the thousand plus acres the family had under cultivation.

Dean would wear many hats over the years: farmer, welder, mechanic, electrician, systems administrator, business owner. His interests ranged far and wide, and anything he tried his hand at he became proficient quickly. He relished taking a challenge and solving it himself, often with the judicious use of an acetylene torch or welder. It was sometimes hard to know where his hobbies ended and his professional jobs began so interspersed were they.

Lest you think Dean was only about work, he knew how to have fun. Sometimes that took the form of lounging in the backyard pool, taking a long snowmobile trip, or blowing things up with homemade explosives. He became interested in flying, and soon not only had his pilot's license, but a single engine Cessna and a grass runway built. He was an avid firearms owner and a supporter of many conservation efforts, both financially and volunteering his time. In 1997, Dean added grandfather to his repertoire when his first grandson was born. The next twenty years brought nine grandchildren in total.

In 2013, the pivot came. Dean suffered a heart attack in May, and everything changed overnight. The man who would never retire had been given a second lease on life and decided to take full advantage. Dean and Deb sold their shares of the family business, and spending half the year in Arizona became reality. The snowmobile became a side-by-side UTV, and just like that, they were "living the good life". The last decade Dean enjoyed splitting his time between Iowa and Arizona. He took up a new "hobby" as owner of two commercial storage units. In 2022, he would don his last and final hat: great grandfather. In June, his first great granddaughter Braelynn Rose would be born, and two more would come in the next few years, Madeline Grace and Elizabeth Michelle.

Dean was preceded in death by parents, Alvin and Rosalie; brother, Mark; and granddaughter, Giselle. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Debra; son, Dustin (Heather) and their children Tyler (Jordyn) and Taylor (Jacob); daughter, Danielle (John) and their children Genevieve and Weston; and daughter, Dawn (Sterling) and their children Jillian and Jameson; exchange daughter, Romana (Kristopher) and her children Alexandro and Cristiano; brothers, Bruce Brase, Ross (Peggy) Brase; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 4-7pm, Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls. Visitation will continue at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 10-11am with Dean's Celebration of Life at 11am. Please join the family for a reception immediately following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dean's honor may be directed to Iowa Pheasants Forever.