Dean Hegbloom

Dean Hegbloom was a wonderful man, who lived a great life, a life full of family and fond memories. Dean was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, but more than anything, he taught us that life wasnt about winning, it was about playing. Deans story began on a cool fall day in 1938, in the shoreline city of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were hopeful times in this country, as our nation began to pull itself back up after the terrible times of the Great Depression. On September 29, 1938, Hilding and Ellen (Mattila) Hegbloom celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Dean Wayne Hegbloom. Dean joined his sister Dolores in the familys Muskegon home, where he was a very active boy. Growing up, Dean always enjoyed playing a game of baseball, basketball, or just being outdoors. He loved sports, and he had a mind for the game. After high school, Dean began working, met his first wife, and soon found himself the proud father of three wonderful children, Bob, Mary, and Nancy, who made their father so happy and proud. Dean remained a very loving and attentive father, who was very involved in his childrens lives and pursuits especially of the sporting variety! Being the sports fan he was, he coached them in Beach League football, baseball, and softball over the years. His kids fondly remember his motivational speeches, which he delivered with great emphasis around the dinner table! You can do anything, if you put your mind to it. Dean truly believed that cant wasnt a word, and taught his kids to remove it from their vocabularies. In the mid-sixties, Dean began working at West Michigan Steel, the start of a long career with the company. Here he created many life long friendships, including his wife Marge Dulinsky. The happy couple was married on July 7, 1984, in Shelby, Michigan, the start of a beautiful marriage. Dean and Marge were happy to announce the birth of their daughter Tara in 1988. They enjoyed dancing to their song, Can I have this dance for the rest of my life. They also enjoyed traveling, and visiting family. They loved doing other things, as well as spending time with family and friends. Many nights were spent sitting around the dining room table playing cribbage and talking with friends. In the summertime, he and Marge enjoyed hosting Air Fair parties at their home. Dean always enjoyed a pizza from Scribs or lake perch from Doo Drop Inn. Dean had plenty of his own interests, of course. He worked very hard at West Michigan Steel, and played even harder outside of work. He was a longtime, active member of the Lakeside Fraternal Order of the Eagles, where he made many close friends in his 24 years there. He also played on a mens fast-pitch softball team for many years, and was a longtime member of the Suburban bowling league. Being the great athlete he was, Dean had an impressive collection of trophies from both sports. Of course, when he wasnt playing sports, he was watching them! Dean was an avid sports fan, who followed the Lions, Pistons, Tigers, U of M, and anything else ESPN might have playing. Dean spent many Saturdays and Sundays watching Michigan and the Lions with his son Bob. Like his father, Bob, was a Michigan and Lions fan. Dean and his sons-in-law, Jim and Paul, had a long-running rivalry involving their favorite football teams. Jim was a Bears fan, Paul followed the Steelers, and Dean rooted for the Lions. Whoevers team had the losing record had to buy the beer! (Subsequently, Dean bought a lot of beer.) Family was always first and foremost to Dean. They shared so many fond memories together. The holidays were a special time, from the traditional Fathers Day picnic at the channel/Bronson Park, to the Lakeside Memorial Day Parade, where Dean could be found in front of Uncle Henrys house. Dean also enjoyed time spent with his sister Dolores, brother-in-law Bill and nephews and niece Mark, Lori, and, Michael. Christmas was also very special, when all the kids and later grandkids got together to continue his mothers traditional Swedish Christmas Eve. Everyone looked forward to Deans famous rotisserie roast. He was even able to convince his grandkids that the meat was Lions meat hoping they would follow in his footsteps of being a Lions fan. Dean loved being a grandpa, and adored all of his grandchildren. The kids looked forward to going to the candy store and the dollar store with their grandpa. After 40 plus years with the company, Dean retired from West Michigan Steel in November of 2002. Marge was still working, so Dean happily began doing many of the household chores, especially the laundry. Tara would often return home from Grand Valley, and Dean would be waiting to do her laundry. During the summers Dean looked forward to spending time at the beach with Tara. Tara was much younger than her other siblings and Dean was also proud of her accomplishments. Dean was a tough man, who didnt know the word cant, and also never liked doctors. He avoided going to them at all costs, in fact. Unfortunately, in the winter of 2008, his health complications got the best of him, and his health began to decline. Dean sadly died on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the age of 69. Dean was a wonderful man, who lived a great life of fun, family, and fond memories. For Dean, life was all about trying your best at whatever you do. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, and man who never acknowledged the word cant. What Dean meant to us wont ever be forgotten. Dean is survived by his wife: Marge; children: Robert "Bob" Hegbloom, Mary (Jim) Gillings, Nancy (Paul) St. Amour and Tara Hegbloom all of Muskegon; 5 grandchildren-- Jessica, Amy, Riley, Ryan, Carson, sister, Dolores (Bill) Jones and Sparky, the family's cocker spaniel. A Life Story Cremation Memorial service will be held Saturday, March 1, 2008, 11:00 AM at the Clock Chapel. Visitation is March 1, 2008 10:00 AM-11:00 AM (1 hour prior to service) at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the Lakeside Fraternal Order of Eagle or Taras college fund. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Dean, or to sign the online guest book.