Dean R. Wirtz Obituary (1935 - 2018)

Dean R. Wirtz, 82 of Lexington passed away Friday, February 23, 2018 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, March 1, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, Lexington with Rev. Garry Gromely officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Calvert - Johnson & Musselman Memorial Home, Lexington and for one hour prior to services Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to his church or the Community Cancer Center, Normal. Dean was born September 28, 1935 in Gillette Grove, IA, a son of Raymond and Mildred Chalafant Wirtz. He married Ardis E. Clear on September 28, 1957. She preceded him in death on April 19, 2008. He later married Shirley A. Scarbeary on August 10, 2012. She survives. Also surviving are his children, Barry (Melody) Wirtz of Bloomington and Nancy (Dan) Simmons of Stanford; two step-children, Jody (Belinda) Williams of Lexington and Jer Ri (Don) Panek of Yorkville; 8 grandchildren, Nathan, Jarad and Bryant Simmons, Joshua and Ben Wirtz, Katie and Ryan English and Kandi Simmons; 10 great grandchildren; a brother, Cecil (Landa) Wirtz of Orland Park, KS and a sister-in-law, Pat Wirtz of Wheaton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Verda Wirtz; and two brothers, John and Eldon Wirtz. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lexington and was a member of the Bloomington Kiwanis Club. He worked for NICOR Gas for over 25 years.