Dean Costlow

Dean Costlow, age 79, of Winterset, IA, formerly of Madison, died Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at his residence. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, October 5, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison. Inurnment will follow at Lake Madison Cemetery.

Dean was born December 24, 1939 in Madison, South Dakota and grew up on a family farm north of town. He graduated from Madison’s Beadle High School in 1958 and from South Dakota State Univ. in 1967. He claims he saw Sharee, wearing a pink dress, walking by the Red Owl store in Madison and told his friend that he was going to marry that girl, and he did. Dean and Sharee were married on November 26, 1960 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They were blessed with 3 children: Scott (Debra),Tim (Cheri), and Cindy.

After SDSU graduation, he worked for John Deere Co. for five years as a territory manager and moved seven times. In 1973, he was asked to be a partner in a John Deere dealership in Story City, Iowa. He worked very hard for his family, his customers and his employees. He lived 23 years in Story City and enjoyed every minute. After that, Dean and Sharee rehabbed and opened a small motel and apartment building complex in DeSoto, Iowa. It was a lot of work, but they really enjoyed meeting the guests.

Dean also took on a job driving bus for Van Meter schools for about 12 years. He especially liked driving the girls athletic teams to events and enjoyed the energy they had. He made many friends who still keep in touch. They called him Deano, included him on their team t-shirts and welcomed him to their post-season banquets.

Dean and Sharee sold the hotel/apartments and retired in 2005. They moved to an acreage in Madison County, near Winterset, Iowa, John Wayne’s birthplace and home of the Covered Bridges. Dean worked on improving the property ever since, including the planting of about 2000 trees. It is beautiful.

He is survived by his wife, Sharee; his 3 children, Scott, Tim and Cindy; six grandchildren that he loved with all his heart- Luke, Cade, Twins – Clara and Eden, and Walter and Harlan; one brother Duane Costlow; and two sisters, Wieczorek and Judy Titze.