Beverly Rae Dea

August 31, 1930 ~ December 26, 2021

VISITATION DETAILS

Thursday, December 30, 2021

3:00 – 7:00 PM

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Avoca, IA

(get directions)

ROSARY

Thursday, December 30, 2021

7:00 PM

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Avoca, IA

(get directions)

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Friday, December 31, 2021

10:30 AM

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Avoca, IA

(get directions)

Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, IA

SURVIVORS

12 Children – David (Joanne) Dea of Lubec, ME

Dana (Sheilla) Dea of Gothenburg, NE

Donald (Sally) Dea of Auburn, NE

Duane Dea of Elkhorn, NE

Deanna Dittmar of Elkhorn, NE

Denise Tuel of Shelby, IA

Debra Schechinger of Harlan, IA

Doreen Dea of Council Bluffs, IA

Dennis (Rachael) Dea of Shelby, IA

Delia (Brad) Purviance of Lynch, NE

Darren (Amy) Dea of Templeton, IA

Derrick (Sherry) Dea of Greenwood, NE

41 Grandchildren

40 Great-grandchildren

1 Sister-in-law – Helen Dea of Council Bluffs, IA

Many Nieces, Nephews, & Friends

Beverly Rae (Hauptman) Dea was born on a farm near Julian in Otoe County, Nebraska, on August 31, 1930. She was the daughter of Herman Ray and Marie Cecilia (O’Neil) Hauptman and was the youngest of six children. She was raised in the Julian and Peru, Nebraska, communities and attended elementary school in Peru, Nebraska. Beverly then attended Fairview White High School in Dayton, Ohio, graduating on June 16, 1947. She was attending Peru State Teachers College where she met her future husband, Donald Joseph Dea, at a Valentine’s Day dance. They were married April 16, 1951, in Dayton, Ohio, and to this union 12 children were born.

Until the children came along, Beverly worked as a clerk at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, while Don was stationed in Iceland. She then followed her husband as he served in various Air Force assignments in Massachusetts, Illinois, Mississippi and Texas.

In 1957, the family returned to the Shelby area where Beverly worked tirelessly on the family farm raising 12 children, keeping them clothed and fed. She spent countless hours cooking, gardening, canning, and sewing as she dedicated her time to her family. Beverly joined the Catholic Church in 1951, and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa.

Beverly R. Dea died at her rural Shelby, Iowa, home on Sunday, December 26, 2021, at age 91 years, 3 months, and 26 days.

Beverly was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one half-brother, Herman Ray Hauptman, Jr.; four sisters, Sarene Button, Leatrice Fulop, Reba Hunzeker, and Verda Dykstra; Donald’s parents, William B. Dea and Cecilia H. Dargin; and two sons-in-law, Timothy Tuel and Donald Schechinger. Survivors include her children, David (Joanne) Dea of Lubec, Maine, Dana (Sheilla) Dea of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Donald (Sally) Dea of Auburn, Nebraska, Duane Dea of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Deanna Dittmar of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Denise Tuel of Shelby, Iowa, Debra Schechinger of Harlan, Iowa, Doreen Dea of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dennis (Rachael) Dea of Shelby, Iowa, Delia (Brad) Purviance of Lynch, Nebraska, Darren (Amy) Dea of Templeton, Iowa, and Derrick (Sherry) Dea of Greenwood, Nebraska; 41 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Helen Dea of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, December 31, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa, with Father Seth Owusu celebrating. Elizabeth Schechinger was the Eucharistic Minister, and Hannah Dea and other family members served as musicians. Teresa Dea was the lector, and Peter Dea and Joseph Dea were the servers. Casket bearers were Jake Dea, Autumn Dea, Taylor Tuel, Tate Purviance, Kielan Dittmar, and Justin Schechinger. Burial was in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Shelby, Iowa, was in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.