Dean Mountain

Dean Mountain died Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at 10 am. He was 84 years old. 

W. Dean Mountain was born to his parents, Earl and Gladys, at home in northwest Pike County near Fishhook, Illinois, on July 10, 1936. It was one of the hottest years on record at that time. His mother Gladys always said she tried to keep him outdoors in the shade as much as she could, fanning him while he slept.

Dean attended one-room schoolhouses until high school.  He graduated from Perry High School in 1954.

Dean’s first job was working for Elmer Bradbury at John Deere in Perry.  Between high school and marriage, he lived in Quincy and worked at Gardner-Denver Compressors as a machinist.  After marriage, he moved to Perry and worked for two Ford dealerships in Pittsfield and Mt. Sterling.  In 1960, he began working for CIPS (later Ameren) at the plant in Meredosia. He retired from CIPS as an electrician in 1998 after 38 years.

Dean married Vicki Thiele on June 22, 1957.  Together they had three sons. Michael (d. 2014), Brian, and Darin (Nikki).  They had five grandchildren, Travis, Candace, Kayla, Shane and Shannon Mountain. They had three great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Mason, and Kynsley Mountain. 2 brothers also survive, Wayne Mountain of Perry and Bill Mountain of Quincy.

Dean loved practical jokes. He taught his sons the enjoyment of a good, gentle laugh at another’s expense, and they will no doubt carry on the tradition he began.

He was a talented craftsman. He had a small-engine repair business in Perry for many years. He spared no expense in a repair; he loved the challenge. He had tools to fix his tools! He and Vicki enjoyed picking up pecans in their and Darin’s yards. They purchased a pecan-cracker, doing business as “Perry’s Own Pecans” for many years.

Dean genuinely enjoyed mowing. Even after he entered an assisted living facility, he came home on weekends to mow his yard. After one mowing session, he hopped off the mower and said, “I mowed the shit outta that!” 

He and Vicki enjoyed woodcrafts and craft shows. He loved a good auction, and dragged home many treasures. His favorite “finds” were Keen Kutter merchandise. He collected clocks and all kinds of keys, especially skeleton keys. He owned hundreds of clocks and thousands of keys.

They also loved eating out and traveling by car. They would drive a hundred miles out of their way to eat at a favorite restaurant. Dean loved fried fish, especially buffalo and catfish. They knew their favorite servers, and their servers knew them. One time, shortly before Christmas, they tipped their favorite server at Golden Corral in Quincy $100. 

He loved his brothers, and nothing made him happier than spending time visiting and drinking coffee with them. They could and did spend hours and hours with each other. They relished each other’s company. They held court at The Wagon Wheel, sitting around the Liars’ Table. After the Wagon Wheel closed, they moved their multiple daily coffee conferences to The Pioneer Express. 

Both Dean’s parents spent their final years in nursing homes. Dean and his brothers drove to visit each parent every single day. 

Dean was preceded in death by his brother James (Jim), his wife Vicki, and his son Michael (Mike). 

He was much loved and is sorely missed.

Cremation will be accorded and graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 5, 2020 in the Wilson Cemetery in Perry, Illinois with Pastor Dave Kelly officiating. 

There will be no visitation. 

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left or mailed to the Hendricker Funeral Home, 406 South Capitol Avenue, Mt. Sterling, Illinois 62353. 

Condolences for the family may be left on line at www.hendrickerfuneralhome.com. 

The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is assisting the family with the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dean Mountain, please visit our floral store.