Dean Lee Templin was born on March 17, 1942 in the old Galloway Hospital in Anthony, Kansas to Ted and Beulah (McNamar) Templin. He passed away at the age of 74 on September 24, 2016 at the Wakita Community Health Center after a short, but brave battle with cancer.

Dean was the third of four boys and grew up on the family farm north of Wakita, Oklahoma. He attended Wakita Public Schools until graduating with the class of 1961. He loved farm life, and after graduating high school, he got the opportunity to go on the harvest with Lawrence Yunker, and later would be employed by State Line Grain, WAKO, Elliott's Case International and WE Adams. He stayed close to farming throughout his lifetime, holding several farm jobs especially with Joe Seely and Bill Jones.

On April 15, 1966, he was united in marriage at the Wakita United Methodist Church with Erma Colson from Kiowa and to this union three children were born; Helen, Annette, and Jason. They made their home in Wakita, raising their children and watching all of them become 3rd generation Wakita graduates, which made Dean very proud.

Dean was an exceptional welder and attended welding school at Autry Vo Tech in Enid. In 1977, he went to work for Koch Industries at Medford and would be employed with them for 17 years. He worked for Bill Jones and WB Johnston Grain until his retirement.
He loved his community and took part in many community events, participating on the men's baseball team, Anthony bowling league, and several surrounding gun clubs and shoots, having won numerous plaques and trophies for his shooting skills. He was very proud to be part of the Wakita Alumni Association and served as a committeeman several times. He looked forward to the banquets and visiting with all the people who attended.

Dean was known for his firefighting and equipment skills having served on the Manchester and Wakita Fire Departments for a total of 20 years. He served as Wakita Fire Chief for 2 years before retiring in 1984. He maintained the fire equipment and safety procedures while at Koch Industries.

He loved family and was so excited to become a grandpa. He never missed an opportunity to pose for a picture, read a book, or snuggle with a grandchild. Dean looked forward to football season and loved watching the Sooners. He enjoyed fishing, bird hunting, and took special interest in wild turkeys. He loved the Duke and never tired of his movies or watching any good western.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters-in-law Carolyn and Renate, and three nieces. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 50 years, Erma; daughters Helen George of Wakita, OK, Annette (Kenton) Cooperrider of Anthony, KS, and son Jason Templin of Clearwater, KS; grandchildren, Kendie and Kody Cooperrider, and Jaelyn Kae and Rylee Rae Templin; brothers Cleo Templin, Norman, OK, Max Templin, Federal Way, WA, and Jim (Mary Kay) Templin, Anthony, KS, and a host of other relatives and many, many friends.

Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 30, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Wakita, Oklahoma. Burial will follow in the Wakita Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Wakita United Methodist Church, Wakita Community Health Center or Wakita Fire Department, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.