Dean Schlitter, 60, of Oelwein passed away on Monday August 6, 2018. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday August 10, 2018 at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Saturday August 11, 2018 at the Church of Christ United in Winthrop with Rev. Darwin Moore officiating. A memorial fund has been established.
Dean Lloyd Schlitter was born July 25, 1958 in Decorah, IA to parents Robert and Ruth (Swenson) Schlitter. He graduated from Allison-Bristow High School with the class of 1976. He then attended and graduated from the Brown Institute in Minneapolis, MN with his degree in Broadcasting. On May 27, 1978 he was united in marriage with Susan Koepke at Denver, IA.
Dean started his radio career at KXEL in Waterloo, then going to KOEL in Oelwein. He later worked for Terry L. Butz Creative, Hellman Advertising Agency and owned KQMG Magic 95.3 radio stations. He emceed for many nationally known music stars, including the Statler Brothers, the Lettermen and Barbara Mandrell. He was the voice of many commercials, including national Pontiac ads. He was a disc jockey for many weddings, parties and events. He began Dean's Honda in 2004, expanding to Dean's Destination Powersports in 2014. Dean was a Lay Speaker at Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein and later became a Licensed Lay Pastor. In 2003, he began an interim term at Church of Christ United in Winthrop and they never let him go.
Dean had been involved in the Lions Club, Rotary International (Past President), Iowa United Methodist Foundation Board and Chair of the Iowa United Methodist Communications Department, and many other community activities. He loved working on his model railroad, riding motorcycles when time allowed, cheering for the Packers,
grilling and cooking. Although he battled health issues for so many years, he kept a smile on his face and persevered.
Left to celebrate Dean’s life is his wife Sue; daughter Laura Schlitter of Purmerend, The Netherlands; brother Dale (Tammy) Schlitter of Bartlett, IL; sister Jan (Terry) Tilleraas of Dodgeville, WI; sisters-in-law: Pam Youngblut of Denver, IA and Jenny (Tim) Woodman of Plainfield, IA; several cousins, nieces, nephews and his dear cat Buddy. He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Paul and Evelyn Koepke; brother-in-law Randy Youngblut.