Arnold Dean Blackwell

Arnold Dean Blackwell, age 86, of Brownstown, was welcomed into his heavenly home on July 1, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.

Dean entered this life on November 12, 1932, in Portland, Maine to the late George and Esther (Mott) French. He was adopted and raised by his Uncle Seth and Aunt Irene Blackwell. After graduating from Weymouth High School in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Dean joined the US Navy and served on the battleship USS New Jersey during the Korean War. He met his beautiful wife, Carol Hallow, while both were studying at Concordia Teachers College in River Forrest, Illinois. They were married at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Brownstown on June 10, 1960. God blessed with four children: Michael, Katrina, Peter, and David. After graduating, Dean taught at Our Shephard Lutheran School in Houston Texas; Mt. Hope Lutheran School in Allen Park, Michigan; Bad Axe Middle School in Bad Axe, Michigan. In 1961 Dean and Carol moved to Brownstown (Carol’s hometown) where he taught at Brownstown Central Middle School until his retirement in 1997. Dean earned his Master’s Degree from Indiana University.  Additionally, he worked at Family Drug for several years after retiring.

Dean was a devoted husband, loving father, and grandpa. He loved spending time with his family and loved to travel to visit his family that lived out of state. Dean and Carol were able to visit all fifty states during their time together. He was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Brownstown, where he served as an Elder, on the Evangelism Board,  and in the church choir. For several years dean was a lay director for the Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (OAFC), a youth evangelism group. Dean had the gift of encouragement, always sharing a smile, and greeting people by name wherever he went.

Thankful to God for his Christian example and cherishing Dean’s memories is his wife of 59 years, Carol; his four children: Mike Blackwell and his wife Kristine, Tina Fisk and her husband Joseph, Peter Blackwell and his wife Sharon, and David Blackwell and his wife Janet; eleven grandchildren: Jennifer Blackwell, Jonathon Blackwell, Maureen Fisk, Natalie Fisk, Sarah Blackwell, Emma Blackwell, Megan Blackwell, Hannah Blackwell, Michelle Blackwell, Elissa Peterson, and Sara Peterson; and a brother Bob French.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Barbara Cook.

Funeral Service will be conducted by Zabel Funeral Home at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Monday, July 8, 2019, at 11:00 am with Pastor Jeremy Yeardon officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery where a final salute will be conducted by the VFW Post 1925, American Legion Post 89, Disabled Veterans and the Korean and Vietnam Veterans of Jackson County.

Visitation will be held at Zabel Funeral Home of Brownstown on Sunday, July 7, from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm and on Monday after 10:00 am at St Peter’s Lutheran Church until time of the service.

Memorials may be given to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hoosier Christian Village Auxiliary and the Salvation Army in Dean’s name

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