Grant Lee Dean

Grant Lee Dean, 16, of Cambridge, IL, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024.  A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Mr. Tom Akers will officiate.  A memorial visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2025.  The family asks everyone to wear casual attire to the funeral and visitation.  Memorials may be directed to the Grant Dean Memorial Fund, which will be dispersed amongst his favorite local charities.

Grant was born January 3, 2008, the son of Jesse and Melanie (Schumaker) Dean, in Geneseo, IL.  He was a junior at Cambridge High School where he was a member of the Cambridge Marching Band and participated in Martin Motion Robotics Club.  His hobbies included music – especially 50’s and 60’s classics that he would listen to and then learn to perform, turning wrenches - most likely on his quad and John Deere mower, fishing, vacationing in the Ozarks at his favorite resort, and learning all things history.  He loved his car “Christine,” collecting things - with his newest being uranium glass, and spending time with family and friends.

Grant will always be remembered for his special qualities.  He loved animals and caring for other’s pets, making people laugh, and being a friend to everyone.  He had a natural quick wit, never met a stranger, was the fun uncle aka “funcle” to his sister’s dog King, and was considered an old soul.  His network of friends and acquaintances, including young and old, was so large it continually amazed his family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his parents, Jesse and Melanie Dean; sister, Adeline Dean; grandparents, Karan (Cookie) Dean, Marvin and Mary Kay Newman; aunts and uncles, Roberta Doubler, Barbara Fulton, Jackie Anderson, Pat Guyette, Sally Clark, Darren and Sue Schumaker, Malcolm and Beth Newman, Melinda and Greg Taylor, Doug Schumaker and Lynda Klekowski, and Eric “Newy” Neubauer; many beloved cousins; and special friends, Tooter Stevens, Sharon Schnowske, Wayne and Debbie Morris, Doug and Paula Iverson, Gary Bennett and Kay Mundt, Laura Lewsader, Deb Else, Ray Bennett, Bailee and Levi Olesen, and best friend since kindergarten, Austin Woodbury.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Larry Schumaker and Dennis “Pops” Dean; great-grandparents, Harold and Marjorie Schumaker, Albert and Lucille Doubler, Carl and Fern Dean, and Floyd and Helen Palmer; and aunts and uncles, Ronald Doubler, Betty Lou Doubler, Marvin “Moe” Schumaker, Cindy and Steve Reyes, and “Uncle” Mikey Johnson.