John W. Dell

Family-Placed Obituary

Honorable JOHN W. DELL (retired) December 17, 1931 - February 18, 2012 John W. Dell, 80, of West Palm Beach, Florida passed after a brief illness in Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. John was born in Dubuque, Iowa where he spent most of his young adult life as a lineman, construction worker, and owner of one of the first television repair shops. He married Regina (Jean) Winders in 1951. After a stint in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, he enrolled in Loras College back in his home town and received a B.A. in Business Administration in 1958. John received his LLB (1962) and JD (1967) from the University of Notre Dame; he and wife Jean cherished their years in Vetville, the married student housing at Notre Dame. He then moved his young family to West Palm Beach in 1962 and joined St. Juliana's Church where he was a longtime parishioner. John now joins his beloved wife and soul mate of fifty-nine years, Regina (Jean) Winders Dell; his parents, John Dell and Ethel Grimmell Keller; sisters, Shirley (Keller) Mehrl and Judy (Keller) Mueller in heaven with our Creator. He is survived by four children: Deborah, Steven (wife Pamela), Douglas, and Gina, along with three grandchildren: Steven II (wife J'aime), Brent (wife Stephanie), and Jacob. John is also survived by a large extended family including three brothers Richard Keller, Ernest (Butch) Keller, Kenneth Keller and their wives, in-laws (Nick Mueller, Joseph Olinger), and nieces and nephews, many of whom were frequently by his side since the loss of his beloved "Mrs". John retired in 2001 after 20 years as an appellate court judge for the Fourth District Court of Appeals where he presided as Chief Judge from 1993-1995. He particularly enjoyed his time as an associate and partner with Miller, Cone, Owen, Wagner and Nugent, et al (1962-1971) followed by his own firm association with Dell, Smith and Casey, P.A. (1971 - 1981) prior to joining the court. He was active in the Palm Beach County Bar Association as well as other related activities including: Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, 1983-99; Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, president, 1993-94; Conference of Appellate Judges Executive Committee, 1992-94; Judicial Management Council of Florida, 1995-98; The Florida Bar (Grievance Committee, Rules of Judicial Administration Committee; Florida Bar Appellate Rules Committee, 1986-92); Palm Beach County Bar Association (Medical Legal Committee, 1967-69; Circuit Court Advisory Committee, 1969-81, chair, 1972-81; Committee for the Needs of Children, chair, 1984-86). He was most proud of recognition as Man of the Year by the Notre Dame Club of Palm Beach County, 1981 and as recipient of the Msgr. Jeremiah P. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Catholic Lawyer, 1986. John worked and played hard throughout his entire life. His friends and neighbors could always count on his help particularly when it came to home and yard maintenance. He was always available to his colleagues whenever asked for his opinions and guidance; John will be remembered for his honesty, dedication and commitment as an attorney and appellate court judge. In later years, he truly enjoyed playing cards and visiting his extended family in Dubuque. He was a caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Friends may visit with the family between the hours of 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, February 20, 2012 at QAUTTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME, 1201 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL, with a Wake Service to be held at 6:00 PM. The Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 21, at St. Juliana Catholic Church, 4500 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. John will return home to Dubuque for further services and burial next to his beloved wife, Jeannie. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made in John's memory to the Sorin Society of the University of Notre Dame, Donor Services, Attention: Carol Hennion, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46656. QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME Family Owned and Operated (561) 832-5171 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries