Robert W. “Bob” Dean

Robert W. “Bob” Dean, 74 of Tipton received his wings at 6:49 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019 at I.U. Health North Hospital, Carmel.  He was born in Frankfort, Indiana on January 8, 1945 to Gordon E. & Evelyn Joan (Davis) Dean.  On August 22, 1987 he married Christi L. Rushton and she survives.

Bob lived the definition of firefighter and was a dedicated servant to his fellow man.  He served in the U.S. Army for four years.  He started his career in fire service as a firefighter in Frankfort.  He then began a 39-year career in the office of the Indiana State Fire Marshal, first as an Investigator, then Deputy Chief of Investigations and finally Chief of Investigations for 11 years.

Bob was the founding Chief of Cicero Township Fire Department in Tipton, a position he held for 20 years.  He was still a firefighter on the department at the time of his death.  He had also served as a reserve deputy for the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Marshall in Atlanta and worked security at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville and at Bonge’s Tavern in Perkinsville.

Bob belonged to the IAAI and the IVFA and was a former member of the Moose Lodge and the American Legion.   He found time to pass on his knowledge of fire service to new firefighters.  Bob also liked to spend time with his family, fish and cook.

Survivors along with his wife of 32 years Christi include his children Annette (Robert) Messert, Connecticut, April (Pat) Richards, Greensburg, Anthony (Carla)  Dean, Greensburg, Amber (David) Bell, Goldsmith; two grandchildren Bob & Christi raised, Dustin (Emily) Heaton and Noelle Heaton all of Tipton; one sister, Nancy (Carl) Bowman, Noblesville; brother and sisters-in-law, Brian K. (Tina) Harper, Sharpsville, Cathy A. (Jerry) Highley, Yorktown, Robert (Kathy) Off, Tipton, Sheila Off , Kokomo, and Jane Thomas, Kokomo.

Bob is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Lauren, Blake, Keragan, Ava, Jenna, Cody, Connor, Hunter, Dustin, Noelle, Cody, JJ, Hannah, and Raylynn and 3 great-grandchildren, Eden, Wyatt, and Harper. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and one grandchild.

Funeral services for Bob will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5 at Rock Prairie Church, 421 Ash Street, Tipton, with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery with military and fire service honors.  Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday and from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, all at the church.  Young-Nichols Funeral Home is assisting the family with Bob’s funeral arrangements.

Memorial contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Fund the Funeral to help the family with funeral and medical expenses.

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Last night the fire service lost my first mentor and fire chief in my fire service journey.  Bob was truly one of the wisest big hearted people I knew.  He was there to praise you when you did great and also there to correct you and teach you when you needed it.  The first lesson Bob taught me, and still one of the most important, “Leave the fire service better than when you found it.  Respect this profession and remember no matter if you’re volunteer, industrial, career or whatever… we are all family and in the fireground we have each others back no matter what!”  Well sir, you definitely accomplished that mission.  Rest easy, see you on the other side and don’t forget to have a deck of cards ready for when the rest of us see you again.  We already miss you and love you……….

Troy Clements