Walter “Dean” Werner (July 21, 1940 – July 4, 2020)

Dean Werner, 79, gained his independence from his earthly existence after battling bravely for more than two months in the hospital following open-heart surgery. He was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado by Volga German immigrants Emma Mitchell Werner and Frederick Henry Werner, who worked hard at all things, including opening the family’s music store. Dean shocked his mother by earning his pilot’s license as early as legally possible, and at the age of 16, flew over his house in joy. He had great flying adventures in high school delivering crop dusters to farmers. He moved to Ohio for college and earned his bachelor’s at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He later moved to Boston and earned his master's at New England Conservatory of Music. Dean also studied abroad in Austria, learning German and visiting the homes of the great classical composers. His life’s vocations sprang from his love of flying and the trombone. He flew as a private pilot, instructor, commercial pilot, and later in life, for fun trips with family. As a professional trombone player, he performed with many famous musicians on great stages all over the world, including Carnegie Hall. A great deal of his musical career was spent with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, where he met a violinist who would become his wife of 47 years, Eva Mitsuko Werner. Together, they made homes in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then San Luis Obispo, California. In retirement, he enjoyed living near the ocean, walking, travelling, and visiting his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Eva; three children, Eric, Matthew, and Misa Werner; nieces, Reiko Abe, and Kiyoko Uchiyama; nephews, Geoff and Whitney Werner and Makoto Uchiyama; first wife Susan Gordon; cousin and special friend, Gayle Mitchell; and six grandchildren, Emma, Jackson, Konrad, Eri, Frederick, and Alonso.

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