Sweet Gwen, I'm so very sorry for your loss. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you friend.
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My condolences to Dean's family. I was deeply saddened to hear about your loss. I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
I got to know Dean when we were assistant coaches during Pop Warner football. His sense of humor was amazing, and I looked forward to coming to practice because I knew that I would get the opportunity to work with him. He had a way of bringing laughter to everyone around him. His kindness toward the kids we coached left a lasting impact on all of us. His presence will be greatly missed.
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My deepest sympathy 🙏
We always enjoyed his smile and encouragement while working out at Golds. His funny jokes and smirk always kept the gym in stitches. Rest in peace my friend and prayers to the family.
The gym crew
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2022, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Magical dinner in Scotland
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I was very sad when I heard the news of Dean's passing. We attended Middle School and High School together. We were both Class of 1981. I considered Dean a friend. He was a very kind, funny, and very nice person. He was also a great athlete. Friends who have heard of his passing from Class of 1981 are very sad. He was a very special person to many.
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1979, Round Rock, TX, USA
Dean and High School Friends
— with
Dean,
Mike Carter,
Peti Petri
and Todd Guise
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Dean was a happy and kind soul. I have wonderful memories of Dean, Gary Matthews, and I planning, organizing, and gathering materials for our Muscular Dystrophy Carnivals in the Matthews’ backyard several summers in a row. Lots of hard work for little kids that brought many big smiles when we made the donations to the MDA Telethon in Austin. He brought smiles and joy to everyone even as a young kiddo at 10 years old. He will be missed and made a positive impact on the world. Hugs and prayers for God’s love, strength, and peace to his family.
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2022, UT, Austin, TX, USA
Dean helping Gwen with Rachel’s Senior photo shoot!
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Dear Gwen,
My deepest condolences for the loss to so many. My prayers are with you and yours. We have the hope that we will be reunited with our loved ones.
Dean is celebrating the joy that is to know Jesus with my son.
With all my love,
The Joseph-AlAllawy family
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Our condolences to the whole family.
Big hug, Gwen ❤️
We are here if you need us.
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Beautiful Gwen, we are so sorry to learn this. We love you and your family and hold you in our hearts. Claudia and Carl Teinert
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My heart is broken for y’all. Praying for god to carry you through. Love you Gwen
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I remember the first time I came to the Collmann house, I was maybe 13. I immediately felt safe and at home, Gwen and Dean have such a loving and inviting presence. You can see how much the Collmann family love each other, a bond like no other. Dean was always smiling and laughing! Now over 10 years later I still get greeted with the same smile and hug from what feels like a second family. My last time seeing Dean was in April at a birthday party hosted at my home, as always he lit up the room! I still have the card you gave me and will treasure it. In hard times like these it can feel impossible, just know that he will not be forgotten… his memory lives in all of us ❤️
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Dean wasn’t my blood uncle but he was the best uncle I could’ve ever had. He was always there to give me a tight hug & really make me feel seen (even when i was an annoying teenager). We spent many vacations together but my favorite was our last trip to Italy, we had the best food and the best time - mainly because Dean made everything ten times more enjoyable. I loved watching the way he loved my Aunt Gwen and Hannah, Josh, & Jake. Even with a million things going on he still made time to remember the things happening in my life. I’m so lucky I got to love someone as great as Dean & even luckier to have been loved by him.
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I’m so sorry for your loss! His photo is perfect because that is exactly how I saw him every time I ran into him! His kindness was apparent in every conversation. Many hugs and prayers for peace.
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My first real connection with Dean came when we were co-chaperones for a fifth grade field trip to the San Antonio zoo with our respective sons. Tentative at first, I reached out in casual conversation as we walked from one animal exhibit to the next, sometimes both of us falling into a light jog to keep up with the kids who were enthusiastically racing ahead.
We spent a pleasant warm May afternoon in the hustle and bustle of corralling 6 young and excited boys, but oh was it worth it. From then on, whether it was passing each other in the grocery store or conversing at a party or outing, Dean was always so kind, thoughtful, and authentically interested in catching up. These encounters would always begin with some of the greatest bear hugs I have experienced. I loved his hugs and know many others who felt the same.
He lovingly supported his family in so many many ways, and I know he loved them dearly and deeply. And that’s the way it should be with all of us that surround and lift his dear ones in this life after his passing. Follow his example in his honor and in his memory and love with all of your hearts. Open your hearts a little further. Love and embrace his family and your own, for life is fleeting and precarious. He will be watching us, cheering us on.
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