Dean Farmer

Dean Farmer
Jacksonville - Dean Farmer was born in a log cabin in Nortonville, IL, son of Everett and Mary Farmer.
He grew up and went to high school in Roodhouse, IL, graduating in the Class of 1954. Dean was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, where he was a maintenance technician for several iconic Cold War aircraft. After discharge from the Air Force, Dean attended Illinois State Normal University (now ISU), where he met and married the love of his life and wife of more than 65 years, MarySusan Farmer (nee Knirsch). He
eventually earned a master's degree from ISU in later years.
As the first member of his immediate family to graduate from college, he began his 31-year career with Jacksonville School District 117 in 1962, serving in multiple capacities, most notably as math teacher, guidance counselor, and vice principal, as well as coaching junior varsity football in the 1960s and the freshman football team in the 1980s. In each of these roles, Dean served as a quiet, positive role model for the
students whose lives he touched. During his District 117 career, Dean and MarySusan led several groups of Jacksonville High School students on tours of Germany as part of the GAPP Exchange programs.
After retiring in 1993, Dean stayed active with a variety of volunteer activities, most notably serving as an ancestry researcher for the Decorative Arts Division at the Illinois State Museum, earning the honor of Volunteer of the Year in the early 2000s. He was a lifelong musician, playing his 6- and 12-string guitars and the dulcimer that he built himself from a kit. He was an avid reader and student of history and loved to travel.
Dean stayed in touch with a number of his fellow retired teachers, whose company he enjoyed greatly.
Dean was preceded in death by his father and mother and his brothers Lindell and Harold. He is survived by his wife MarySusan, his son David Farmer (Deborah Mandell) and his daughter Michelle Law (Mark), as well as his granddaughter Emily Farmer.
No formal services are planned at this time; a private celebration of life is being planned for later this year.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Illinois State Museum at www.illinoisstatemuseum.org/ismsystem-content/donate-illinois-state-museum-society.html.
Condolences can be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.