G. Dean Smallwood

Gerald Dean Smallwood, 94, of Dundas, IL passed away peacefully, with his family by his bedside on Friday, January 10, 2025, at his residence.

The younger of twins, Dean was born at home on May 12, 1930 in Jasper County, IL, the son of William and Mary (Graham) Smallwood. He married Joan E. Storer on June 28, 1958 at the First United Methodist Church in Olney, IL, and she preceded him in death on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021.

Dean graduated from Slate Point School, District #8 in Wheeler, IL, with an 8th grade education. He would tell you he repeated 8th grade 8 times, since it was a one room schoolhouse.

Dean was a farmer at heart and along-side of his late wife, farmed and raised his family of four children. Prior to that Dean served in the Army during the end of the Korean War, he drove a school bus, delivered milk, farmed, worked odd jobs, worked for Romack’s Equipment in Newton, IL, and worked construction building houses in Olney, IL.

Dean believed in salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Christian, he lived his faith on earth by his actions. His random acts of kindness included visiting shut-ins, giving rides to others for dialysis, doing handyman jobs for little or nothing, repairing plumbing, wiring, engines, or whatever was broken, and delivering watermelons to friends. While he was able, Dean would often check on those who were home-bound. After a serious farming accident in 1968, he personally knew what it was like to be home-bound and made it his mission to visit shut-ins, he volunteered at the Good Samaritan, and most recently helped his daughter deliver “Meals on Wheels” for the local Senior Citizens Center.

Dean will be remembered for his many stories, his sense of humor, his love for the writer, Lee Pitts and his short stories about living down dirt roads, his favorite movie, The Road to Christmas, and being the man who just “happened to have” the part someone needed for their truck or farm equipment or could make it out of his scrap metal.

Most of all, his family will remember him for being a dedicated and loving husband to the love of his life, the late Joan, of which he selflessly and lovingly cared for after her stroke; for being a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Dean was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Olney, IL, for over sixty years, where he served on the trustee board, drove the church bus, baked the cornbread, and volunteered for many handy-man jobs over the years, and was a faithful member of their J.O.Y. (Jesus First, Others second, then Yourself) Sunday school class.

Dean enjoyed the simple things in life. He found contentment with what he had and freely shared it.

Dean was survived by his four children, Clinton (Janet) Smallwood, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Carla (Craig) Patterson of Olney, IL; Wendy Johnson, of Flora, IL; and Glenda (Paul) Croegaert, of Richmond, TX; grandchildren, Mark (Jessica), Joshua (Christi), and Jacob Smallwood, and Hunter Johnson; great-grandchildren, Camerin (Andrew) Childers, Calieb, Kathaleen, Kaileigh, and Clinton Dean Smallwood, Caidence Carter, and Abby, Wyatt, Audrey, Jon, Charly, & Ava Smallwood; sister-in-law, Donna Smallwood, and many nieces and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister in-law, Summers Marion (Eleanor) Smallwood; sister and brother in-law, Marie Zella (Jack) Duffek; brother and sister in-law, William Graham (Marie) Smallwood; sister and brother-in-law, Helen Elaine (Glenn) Allen; brother, Kenneth Duane Smallwood; brother and sister-in-law, Donald Lynn (Marybelle) Smallwood; twin brother and sister-in-law, Harold Gene (Jeannie) Smallwood; and son-in-law, Daniel Johnson.

Dean’s family is very thankful for Dean’s personal assistants, fondly known as the “Dean Team”, who were there for him over the past several years, and Richland County Hospice, for their expertise and support during Dean’s last couple of days on earth.

A funeral service will be held for Dean at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Kistler-Patterson-Funeral Home in Olney, IL with a visitation beginning one hour before the service time.

Interment will follow the service at the Bethel Cemetery in West Liberty, IL.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney, IL has been entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Good Samaritan of Richland County, or the Senior Citizens Center of Olney, IL.