Herbert Allen Dean Jr., age 82, passed away, with his children by his side, on April 3, 2026 at Prairie Meadows Senior Living in Kasson, Minnesota.
Herb was born on January 11, 1944, in Santa Maria, California, to Opal (Sipes) and Herbert Dean.
Herb graduated from Oxnard High School, Oxnard, California, in 1962. In 1970, he graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor’s degree in English. He went on to get his master’s degree from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, in Library Science and Media in 1975. In 2001 Herb returned to school at Oxnard College where he completed 42 semester hours in the Addictive Disorders Studies Program. He would go on to be Licensed in Nevada as an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor.
Herb’s first job was as a grocery store clerk at Food Giant, where he worked for two years before enrolling in California Polytechnic State University to study Architecture. Two years into his college career, Herb was drafted into the United States Army and served in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry “Ivy” Division from 1966 to 1968. Throughout his life, Herb had many careers: high school English teacher, track coach, lobbyist for nonprofit nursing homes, real estate agent, English college professor, college recruiter for veterans, funeral director, and drug and alcohol rehab counselor.
Herb married his first wife, Lynn, in 1967, and they divorced two years later. After returning from Vietnam, Herb met his second wife, Diane (Hudek), at Cal Poly and they were married from July 1969 to 1991. From this marriage, his daughter Danna and his son Brian were born. Herb met Jayne (Brown), his third wife, through Alcoholics Anonymous. They were married on October 14th, 1998, and he called Jayne the love of his life. They lived in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida until Jayne’s passing in July 2014.
He is survived by his daughter Danna (Bryan) Folkers, his son Brian Dean (Jean Prokott), and his grandchildren, Truman, Tate, and Vasi Folkers. He is also survived by his two stepdaughters, Jessica (Keith Demling), and Naomi Roy; his stepson Derik Roy; and his step grandchildren, Belle, Luke, Elijah, and Quinn.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jayne, his parents, Herbert and Opal Dean, and his sister Bonnie Dean.
Herb was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and was proud to be sober for 33 years. He loved the camaraderie of attending AA meetings, where he made new friends and was a sponsor to other people in the process of recovery.
In addition to being a loving husband and father, Herb’s family will remember him as a lifelong sports fan who loved watching the Dodgers, college football, and even little league baseball. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, writing, hobby crafts, playing Mahjong, telling stories, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
What a wonderful man. Be thoughtful at peace, Coach.
May God bless him. He was a great Cross. Country coach.
I had the extreme pleasure of a close association with Herb “Coach” Dean. He was still in his 20’s in 1972-73 when he taught and coached at Rowland High School. It might have been his first teaching job. He was an english teacher and the advisor for the school newspaper and I was the editor. I knew nothing and learned much from Herb. He gently directed us to push editorial limits. He was the cross-country coach and I was on the team. I can tell you that to a man we loved our coach. We knew he had served in Viet Nam but he never spent time talking about it. We all knew he was the real deal. When he signed my senior yearbook “Your friend, Herb” it made me feel like a man. He was my favorite person for those years. I am so sorry for your loss of a truly great man.
Sorry for the loss of your father-in- law, and father of Brian and his siblings.
Proud to have him for a son-in-law. He was the best thing to happen to Jayne.
He was a good man.
Ellen & Dennis
A Gentleman and Teacher in the truest sense. I never made the team however I’ve always admired the camaraderie and loyalty Coach Dean fostered within his teams!
Rest easy Sir.
I taught with Herb at Rowland High School in the 70’s. He and I were about two weeks apart in age and both Army veterans. He taught English and also coached cross-country, as I recall. He was well-liked by both his students and his colleagues. My condolences to his family.